UN Guidelines

E c o n o m i c &
S o c i a l
Indicators of
Sustainable Development:
Guidelines and Methodologies
A f f a i r s
October 2007
Third Edition
Published by the United Nations
ISBN 978-92-1-104577-2
Sales No: E.08.II.A.2
07-53189—December 2007—2,300 United Nations

Indicators of Sustainable Development:
Third Edition
United Nations
New York, 2007
DESA
The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat
is a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental
spheres and national action. The Department works in three main interlinked
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environmental data and information on which States Members of the United Nations
draw to review common problems and to take stock of policy options; (ii) it facilitates
the negotiations of Member States in many intergovernmental bodies on joint course of
action to address ongoing or emerging global challenges; and (iii) it advises interested
Governments on the ways and means of translating policy frameworks developed in
United Nations conferences and summits into programmes at the country level and,
through technical assistance, helps build national capacities.
Note
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delimitations of its frontiers.
The term “country” as used in the text of the present report also refers, as
appropriate, to territories or areas.
The designations of country groups in the text and the tables are intended
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United Nations publication

Sales No. E.08.II.A.2
ISBN 978-92-1-104577-2
Copyright © United Nations, 2007
All rights reserved
Printed by the United Nations, New York
iii
Contents
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
II. CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

A. History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
B. Latest review of the CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development . . . . . . . 6
III. Overview of the revised CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development . . . 9

A. General description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
B. Addressing thematic linkages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
C. Relationship between MDG Indicators and
CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
D. CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development,
Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation . . . . . . . . . . 27
IV. Applying CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development . . . . . . . . . . . 29

A. Indicator selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
B. Adapting CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development for national sets . . . 32
C. Indicators as tools for measuring sustainable development
processes at the national level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
V. A word on indicator frameworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

A. Driving force-state-response frameworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
B. Issue- or theme-based frameworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
C. Capital frameworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
D. Accounting frameworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
E. Aggregated indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
F. Other indicator approaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
VI. Description of CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development . . . . . . . . 47

A. Poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
B. Governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
C. Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
D. Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
E. Demographics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
F. Natural hazards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
G. Atmosphere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
iv Indicators of Sustainable Development: Guidelines and Methodologies — Third Edition
H. Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
I. Oceans, seas and coasts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
J. Freshwater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
K. Biodiversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
L. Economic development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
M. Global economic partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
N. Consumption and production patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Appendix 1. Agenda 21–Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Appendix 2. Johannesburg Plan of Implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Foreword
This publication presents the third set of Indicators of Sustainable Development

and provides suggestions on how to adapt them to national conditions and pri-
orities. It benefits from the active participation of and excellent collaboration
with, a wide range of governments, international organizations, academic insti-
tutions, non-governmental organizations and individual experts. The indica-
tors are a follow-up to the two earlier sets prepared under the work programme
on indicators of sustainable development approved by the Commission on
Sustainable Development in 1995. These earlier sets were published in 1996
and 2001.
We hope that countries will find the publication useful whenever they are
reviewing their existing indicators or developing new indicators to measure
progress towards nationally defined goals for sustainable development. The
indicators of sustainable development presented here reflect the valuable expe-
riences of countries and international organizations over the past fifteen years
since the adoption of Agenda 21 in Rio de Janeiro. With this publication, we
also hope to further the momentum at the national and international level to
develop and apply sustainable development indicators. This will help the
understanding of the various dimensions of sustainable development and their
complex interactions and the facilitation of policy decisions aimed at achiev-
ing sustainable development goals.
On behalf of the United Nations, I would like to thank all countries,
organizations, agencies and individuals that have contributed their time and
effort to make this publication possible.
JoAnne DiSano
Director
Division for Sustainable Development

I. Introduction
Indicators perform many functions. They can lead to better decisions and more
effective actions by simplifying, clarifying and making aggregated information
available to policy makers. They can help incorporate physical and social sci-
ence knowledge into decision-making, and they can help measure and calibrate
progress toward sustainable development goals. They can provide an early warn-
ing to prevent economic, social and environmental setbacks. They are also useful
tools to communicate ideas, thoughts and values.
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in
1992 recognized the important role that indicators could play in helping coun-
tries make informed decisions concerning sustainable development. At the
international level, the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)
approved its Work Programme on Indicators of Sustainable Development in
1995. The first two sets of CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development (hence-
forth CSD indicators) were developed between 1994 and 2001. They have been
extensively tested, applied and used in many countries as the basis for the devel-
opment of national indicators of sustainable development.
The new revised edition of the CSD indicators has been developed in
response to decisions by the CSD and the World Summit on Sustainable
Development in 2002, which encouraged further work on indicators at the
country level in line with national conditions and priorities and invited the
international community to support efforts of developing countries in this
regard. Since the publication of the previous set, knowledge of and experience
with sustainable development indicators of countries and organizations has
increased significantly, as has the emphasis on measuring progress on achiev-
ing sustainable development, including the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs), at the national and the international levels. By incorporating these
developments, the revision of the CSD indicators gives vital support to coun-
tries in their efforts to develop and implement national indicators for sustain-
able development.
This publication presents the revised, third edition of the CSD indicators.
It also provides a synopsis of their foundation. The presentation of the indicator
Indicators of Sustainable Development: Guidelines and Methodologies — Third Edition
set explicitly addresses their relation to Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation, the outcomes of the major international conferences on sus-
tainable development in 1992 and 2002, as well as their relation to the MDG
Indicators. The publication also provides guidance on applying and adapting the
CSD indicators for the development of national indicator sets. The role of indi-
cator frameworks is briefly discussed, and a succinct description of all indicators
is included. Detailed methodology sheets for each indicator are included in an
accompanying CD-ROM. These methodology sheets are also available on the
indicators section of the webpage of the United Nations Division for Sustainable
Development (http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/) and will be regularly updated.

II. CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development
A. History
Chapter 40 of Agenda 21, the action plan adopted in 1992 at the United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, calls
on countries, as well as international, governmental and non-governmental
organizations, to develop indicators of sustainable development that can pro-
vide a solid basis for decision-making at all levels. Agenda 21 also calls for the
harmonization of efforts to develop such indicators.
This mandate was reflected in the decision of the CSD in 1995 to adopt an
indicators work programme that involved several stages: consensus-building on a
core list of indicators of sustainable development; development of the related
methodology sheets; policy discussions within a CSD publication and widespread
dissemination of this work; testing; and evaluation and revision of the indicators.
The first draft set of indicators of sustainable development was developed
for discussion jointly by the Division for Sustainable Development (DSD) and
the Statistics Division, both within the United Nations Department of Eco-
nomic and Social Affairs. This draft then became the focus of a broad consensus-
building process that included a number of organizations within the United
Nations System and other international organizations, both intergovernmental
and non-governmental, and coordinated by the DSD. The result was a set of
134 indicators. During 1995 and 1996, the same organizations that had partici-
pated in the consultations drafted methodology sheets for each of the indicators,
and these, along with the indicators, were contained in a publication known as
the ‘blue book’ and widely disseminated.
From 1996 to 1999, 22 countries from across the world voluntarily
pilot-tested the indicator set. In order to facilitate this process, the DSD
developed guidelines for the implementation of the CSD indicators, initi-

Agenda 21, Programme of Action for Sustainable Development, adopted at the United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1992.

United Nations, Indicators of Sustainable Development Framework and Methodolo-
gies, United Nations Sales Publication No. E.96.II.A.16 (New York, August 1996).
Indicators of Sustainable Development: Guidelines and Methodologies — Third Edition
ated a series of regional briefing and training workshops, and encouraged

the organization of national workshops and twinning arrangements between
testing countries.
From 1999 to 2000, the results of the national testing were evaluated, and
the indicator set was revised. Overall, countries considered the testing process to
be successful, although they indicated that they had faced significant institu-
tional challenges especially in the areas of human resources and policy coordina-
tion. Integrating indicator initiatives with national development policies and
transforming them into permanent work programmes ranked high among the
recommendations to ensure success. Most countries also found that the initial
CSD indicator set was too large to be easily managed. Consequently, the revised
set of CSD indicators was reduced to 58 indicators, embedded in a policy-
oriented framework of themes and sub-themes. These indicators were presented
to the CSD in 2001, and subsequently published as part of the second edition
of the ‘blue book’.
Overall, the focus of the CSD and its secretariat on indicators provided a
very useful and timely forum for the discussion of national-level indicators with
the involvement of governments, international organizations, and various stake-
holders at a time when thoughts on the potential role of indicators in achieving
sustainable development goals were at an early stage and thus still evolving.
Therefore, the proactive role of the CSD proved to be instrumental in advancing
work in this area.
B. Latest review of the CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development

In 2005, the DSD started a process to review the CSD Indicators of Sustain-
able Development. This process, which is in line with the decision made by the
CSD in 2001 to keep the indicators under review, was largely carried out for
two reasons. In the five years that had passed since the last revision, perspectives
on indicators had evolved and experience in applying indicators of sustainable
development at the country level had grown considerably. A large number of
countries had developed their own national indicator sets, often based on the
CSD indicators. In addition, since the adoption of the United Nations Millen-
nium Declaration in 2000, much attention had been given, within the UN Sys-

United Nations, Indicators of Sustainable Development: Guidelines and Methodologies,
Second Edition, UN Sales Publication No. E.01.II.A.6 (New York, September 2001).
CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development
tem and by member States, to the development and use of indicators to measure
progress on achieving the MDGs.
The review began with research and analysis of national and global trends
in applying indicators and with a renewal of the dialogue with international
experts. The DSD also proceeded to assess the coherence between CSD and
MDG indicators. This was followed by two expert group meetings and supple-
mented by ongoing communications. The original partners, including experts
from those organizations that had prepared methodology sheets, as well as
experts from a number of member States that were developing and using the
indicators were invited. Thereby, the review benefited from the vast expertise of
a wide-range of international agencies as well as from the rich experience gained
by individual countries.
The first expert group meeting carried out a preliminary review of indicator
frameworks and options for a way forward for the CSD indicators. It agreed on
an interim revised list of indicators and proposed changes to the framework. At
its second meeting in October 2006, the expert group completed the review and
finalized the revised list of CSD indicators.
Countries are now invited to consider these revised CSD indicators when
reviewing existing or developing new national indicators of sustainable develop-
ment. Collaborating agencies have agreed to incorporate these indicators in rel-
evant capacity-building activities and inter-agency cooperation is to ensure
coherence of CSD indicators with other indicator sets such as the MDG Indica-
tors, the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership, the Hyogo Framework for
Action on Disaster Reduction, the Global Forest Resource Assessment, and Sus-
tainable Tourism Indicators. The experiences gained by countries in applying
and adapting the new indicator set will be taken into account in the continuous
review of the CSD indicators. As relevant progress is made, methodologies of
indicators will be regularly updated on the website of the DSD.

The Millennium Development Goals were derived from the United Nations Millennium
Declaration, adopted by 189 nations in 2000. Most of the goals and targets were set to
be achieved by 2015 on the basis of the global situation during the 1990s. The baseline
for the assessment of progress is therefore 1990 for most of the MDG targets.

III. Overview of the revised CSD Indicators

of Sustainable Development
A. General description

The newly revised CSD indicators contain a core set of 50 indicators. These
core indicators are part of a larger set of 96 indicators of sustainable develop-
ment. The introduction of a core set helps to keep the indicator set manageable,
whereas the larger set allows the inclusion of additional indicators that enable
countries to do a more comprehensive and differentiated assessment of sustain-
able development. Core indicators fulfill three criteria. First, they cover issues
that are relevant for sustainable development in most countries. Second, they
provide critical information not available from other core indicators. Third, they
can be calculated by most countries with data that is either readily available or
could be made available within reasonable time and costs. Conversely, indicators
that are not part of the core are either relevant only for a smaller set of countries,
provide complementary information to core indicators or are not easily available
for most countries.
The indicator set retains the thematic/sub-thematic framework that was
adopted in 2001. In doing so, it remains consistent with the practice of most
countries applying national sustainable development indicator sets and it is
directly relevant to the monitoring of national sustainable development strate-
gies. At the same time, it is noted that there is important work going on else-
where on alternative frameworks, and these will continue to be considered in
future revisions of the CSD indicators (see chapter V, page 39).
CSD indicator themes

• Poverty • Natural hazards • Economic
• Governance • Atmosphere development
• Health • Land • Global economic
• Education • Oceans, seas and coasts partnership
• Demographics • Freshwater • Consumption and
production patterns
• Biodiversity
10 Indicators of Sustainable Development: Guidelines and Methodologies — Third Edition
The division of indicators along the lines of four ‘pillars’ (social, economic,
environmental and institutional) is no longer explicit in the newly revised set.
This change emphasizes the multi-dimensional nature of sustainable develop-
ment and reflects the importance of integrating its pillars. Consequently, new
cross-cutting themes such as poverty and natural hazards were introduced and
existing cross-cutting themes such as consumption and production patterns are
better represented.
Since poverty covers a broad range of related issues, it was conceptually
limiting to keep it as a sub-theme under equity. Consequently, it is now a sepa-
rate theme that includes sub-themes related to income, sanitation, drinking
water, energy access and living conditions.
Natural hazards were a sub-theme of the now dissolved theme ‘institutional
capacity’, which did not reflect the cross-cutting nature of the topic. Other new
themes include global economic partnership and governance. Global economic
partnership includes a number of new indicators that capture key issues such as
trade and development financing. The indicators for the theme ‘governance’ are
largely undeveloped; only crime related indicators are currently included. Sig-
nificant methodological work is needed to develop good, measurable and inter-
nationally accepted indicators on other aspects of governance.
Table 1:
Theme Sub-theme Core indicator Other indicator

Poverty Income poverty Proportion of Proportion of
population living population below
below national poverty $1 a day
line
Income inequality Ratio of share in
national income of
highest to lowest
quintile
Sanitation Proportion of
population using an
improved sanitation
facility
Drinking water Proportion of
population using an
improved water source
Overview of the revised CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development 11

Poverty Access to energy Share of households Percentage of
(continued) without electricity or population using
other modern energy solid fuels for
services cooking
Living conditions Proportion of urban
population living in
slums
Governance Corruption Percentage of
population having paid
bribes
Crime Number of intentional
homicides per 100,000
population
Health Mortality Under-five
mortality rate
Life expectancy Healthy life
at birth expectancy at birth
Health care Percent of population Contraceptive
delivery with access to primary prevalence rate
health care facilities
Immunization against
infectious childhood
diseases
Nutritional status Nutritional status of
children
Health status and Morbidity of major Prevalence of
risks diseases such as tobacco use
HIV/AIDS, malaria,
tuberculosis
Suicide rate
Education Education level Gross intake ratio to Life long learning

last grade of primary
education
Net enrolment rate in
primary education
Adult secondary
(tertiary) schooling
attainment level
Literacy Adult literacy rate
Demographics Population Population Total fertility rate
growth rate
Dependency ratio
Tourism Ratio of local

residents to
tourists in major
tourist regions and
destinations

Natural Vulnerability to Percentage of
hazards natural hazards population living in
hazard prone areas
Disaster Human and

preparedness and economic loss due to
response natural disasters
Atmosphere Climate change Carbon dioxide Emissions of

emissions greenhouse gases
Ozone layer Consumption of ozone
depletion depleting substances
Air quality Ambient concentration

of air pollutants in
urban areas
Land Land use and status Land use change
Land degradation
Desertification Land affected by

desertification
Agriculture Arable and permanent Fertilizer use

cropland area efficiency
Use of agricultural
pesticides
Area under organic
farming
Forests Proportion of land area Percent of forest
covered by forests trees damaged by
defoliation
Area of forest under
sustainable forest
management
Oceans, Coastal zone Percentage of total Bathing water
seas population living in quality
and coastal areas
coasts
Fisheries Proportion of fish
stocks within safe
biological limits
Marine environment Proportion of marine Marine trophic index
area protected
Area of coral reef
ecosystems and
percentage live
cover

Freshwater Water quantity Proportion of total
water resources used
Water use intensity by

economic activity
Water quality Presence of faecal Biochemical oxygen

coliforms in freshwater demand in water
bodies
Wastewater
treatment
Biodiversity Ecosystem Proportion of terrestrial Management
area protected, total effectiveness of
and by ecological protected areas
region
Area of selected key
ecosystems
Fragmentation of
habitats
Species Change in threat status Abundance of
of species selected key species
Abundance of
invasive alien species
Economic Macroeconomic Gross domestic Gross saving
development performance product (GDP) per
capita
Investment share in Adjusted net savings
GDP as percentage
of gross national
income (GNI)
Inflation rate
Sustainable Debt to GNI ratio

public finance
Employment Employment- Vulnerable

population ratio employment
Labor productivity and
unit labor costs
Share of women in
wage employment in
the non-agricultural
sector
Information and Internet users Fixed telephone
communication per 100 population lines per 100
technologies population
Mobile cellular
telephone
subscribers
per 100 population

Economic Research and Gross domestic
development development expenditure on R&D
(continued) as a percent of GDP
Tourism Tourism contribution
to GDP
Global Trade Current account deficit Share of imports
economic as percentage of GDP from developing
partnership countries and from
LDCs
Average tariff
barriers imposed
on exports from
developing countries
and LDCs
External financing Net Official Foreign direct
Development investment (FDI)
Assistance (ODA) net inflows and
given or received as a net outflows as
percentage of GNI percentage of GDP
Remittances as
percentage of GNI
Consumption Material consumption Material intensity of Domestic material

and production the economy consumption
patterns
Energy use Annual energy Share of renewable
consumption, total and energy sources in
by main user category total energy use
Intensity of energy use,

total and by economic
activity
Waste generation Generation of Generation of waste

and management hazardous waste
Waste treatment and Management of

disposal radioactive waste
Transportation Modal split Modal split of

of passenger freight transport
transportation
Energy intensity of
transport
B. Addressing thematic linkages

Sustainable development indicators attempt to measure sustainable develop-
ment in its entirety, taking into account the multi-dimensional and integrated
nature of sustainable development. Whereas single-valued indices are integra-
tive but mask differences in progress across and within dimensions, indicator
sets such as the CSD indicators track progress but may require some additional
information to make their integrative nature more explicit.
As noted, ceasing to categorize indicators into the pillars of sustainable
development already strengthens the emphasis on the multi-dimensional char-
acter of sustainable development as does rethinking themes and sub-themes. To
illustrate how the CSD indicators address inter-thematic linkages, Table 2
presents an overview of their potential to measure progress towards sustainable
development across various themes.
The themes to which the indicators primarily apply are shaded in Table 2.
Note that an indicator may apply to more than one theme, as for example with
“proportion of population with access to safe drinking water,” which has pri-
mary links to poverty and health. Light grey shading indicates a clear but possi-
bly secondary link. In the drinking water example, the indicator is also useful for
measuring the impact of regulating and governing water utilities and, therefore,
the governance theme is shaded light grey. Moreover, as domestic fresh water is
the major source of drinking water for most countries, the indicator provides
information on availability and use of water resources and for the availability of
infrastructure in utilities. Consequently, the theme of economic development is
also shaded in light grey.
Table 2:
CSD indicators and thematic linkages
Global economic partnership
Cons. and Product. Patterns
Oceans, Seas and Coasts
Economic Development
Natural hazards
Demographics
Atmosphere
Governance
Fresh Water
Biodiversity
Education
Poverty
Health
Land
Percent of population living

below national poverty line
Proportion of population
below international poverty line
Ratio of share in national income
of highest to lowest quintile
Proportion of population using
improved sanitation facilities

Natural hazards
Demographics
Atmosphere
Governance
Fresh Water
Biodiversity
Education
Poverty
Health
Land
Proportion of population
using an improved water source
Share of households without
electricity or other modern
energy services
Percentage of population using
solid fuels for cooking
Proportion of urban population
living in slums
Percentage of population
having paid bribes
Number of intentional homicides
per 100,000 population
Mortality rate under 5 years old
Life expectancy at Birth
Healthy life years expectancy
Percent of population with access
to primary health care facilities
Immunization against infectious

childhood diseases
Contraceptive prevalence rate
Nutritional status of children
Prevalence of tobacco use
Suicide rate
Morbidity of major diseases such
as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tubercolosis
Gross intake into last year

of primary education, by sex
Net enrolment rate in primary
education
Adult secondary (tertiary)
schooling attainment level, by sex
Life long learning
Adult literacy rate, by sex

Natural hazards
Demographics
Atmosphere
Governance
Fresh Water
Biodiversity
Education
Poverty
Health
Land
Population growth rate
Total fertility rate
Dependency ratio
Ratio of local residents to
tourists in major tourist regions
Percentage of population living
in hazard prone areas
Human and economic loss due
to natural disasters
Emissions of greenhouse gases
Carbon dioxide emissions
Consumption of ozone
depleting substances
Ambient concentration of
air pollutants in urban areas
Land use change
Land degradation
Land affected by desertification
Arable and permanent
cropland area
Fertilizer use efficiency
Use of agricultural pesticides
Area under organic farming
Proportion of land area
covered by forests
Percent of forests damaged
by defoliation
Area under sustainable forest
management
Percentage of total population
living in coastal areas
Bathing water quality
Proportion of fish stocks within
safe biological limits

Natural hazards
Demographics
Atmosphere
Governance
Fresh Water
Biodiversity
Education
Poverty
Health
Land
Proportion of marine area
protected
Marine trophic index
Area of coral reef ecosystems
and percentage live cover
Proportion of total
water resources used
Water use intensity by
economic activity
Biochemical oxygen demand
in water bodies
Presence of faecal coliform
in freshwater
Wastewater treatment
Proportion of terrestrial area
protected, total and by
ecological region
Management effectiveness
of protected areas
Area of selected key ecosystems
Fragmentation of habitat
Abundance of selected key
species
Change in threat status of species
Abundance of invasive alien
species
Gross domestic product (GDP)
per capita
Investment share in GDP
Gross savings
Adjusted net savings
Inflation
Debt to GNI ratio
Labor productivity and
unit labor costs

Natural hazards
Demographics
Atmosphere
Governance
Fresh Water
Biodiversity
Education
Poverty
Health
Land
Employment-population ratio,
by sex
Vulnerable employment
Share of women in wage
employment in the non-
agricultural sector
Number of internet users
per 100 population
Fixed telephone lines
per 100 population
Mobile cellular telephone
subscribers per 100 population
Gross domestic expenditure
on R&D as a percent of GDP
Tourism contribution to GDP
Current account deficit as
percentage of GDP
Share of imports from developing
countries and from LDCs
Average tariff barriers imposed
on exports from developing
countries and LDCs
Net Official Development
Assistance (ODA) given or
received as a percentage of GNI
FDI inflows and outflows as
percentage of GNI
Remittances as percentage of GNI
Material intensity of the economy
Domestic material consumption
Annual energy consumption per
capita, total and by main user
category
Share of renewable energy
sources in total energy use

Natural hazards
Demographics
Atmosphere
Governance
Fresh Water
Biodiversity
Education
Poverty
Health
Land
Intensity of energy use, total and
by sector
Generation of waste
Generation of hazardous waste
Management of radioactive waste
Waste treatment and disposal
Modal split of passenger
transportation
Modal split of freight transport
Energy intensity of transport
Table 2 only reveals direct relationships between indicators and themes.

To illustrate this point, consider the indicator on educational attainment. As
educational attainment is a measure of human capital, which in turn is a major
element of economic growth, the theme of economic development is shaded
in light gray. At the same time, economic growth is a major determinant of
consumption patterns in the areas of energy, waste, transport or material con-
sumption. Therefore, educational attainment would be a valid indirect meas-
ure for elements of consumption and production. However, given that this
link is indirect, the consumption theme is not shaded. Education certainly has
important direct linkages to consumption patterns, as evidenced for example
in the declaration of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable
Development. However, the CSD indicator on education does not directly
serve as a measure for the impact of education on sustainable consumption
patterns.

For details, see UNESCO website at http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_
ID=27234&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html.
C. Relationship between MDG Indicators and

The Millennium Development Goals Indicators currently consist of 48 indi-
cators linked to the eight goals derived from the United Nations Millennium
Declaration. However, the revised MDG monitoring framework presented by
the Secretary-General of the United Nations in 2007 contains 58 indicators, as
four new targets have been included to reflect commitments made at the 2005
World Summit. Like the CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development, the
MDG Indicators were developed through a collaborative process involving vari-
ous Departments within the United Nations Secretariat, a number of specialized
agencies from within the United Nations system as well as external international
organizations, various government agencies and national statisticians. Also like
the CSD indicators, the MDG Indicators are driven by policy relevance, rooted
in major inter-governmental development summits and frequently applied
at the national level. Because of these similarities, there may have been some
confusion on the part of policy-makers and practitioners on the relationship
between the two sets and on the need of having two indicator sets.
Millennium Development Goals

1. Eradicate extreme poverty
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership
In fact, while many of the indicators overlap, the overall purpose of the two
sets is different: the CSD indicators are intended solely to provide a reference, or
sample set, for use by countries to track progress toward nationally-defined
goals, in particular, and sustainable development, in general. The MDG Indica-

For the revised MDG monitoring framework, see United Nations, Report of the Secretary-
General on the work of the Organization, (New York, 2006). For information on the MDG
Indicators, see the official United Nations website at http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/
Default.aspx.
tors, on the other hand, were developed for the global monitoring of progress
toward meeting internationally established goals.
In addition, the CSD indicators cover a broad range of issues intrinsic to all
pillars of sustainable development—economic development, social develop-
ment and environmental protection. The MDG Indicators, on the other hand,
are specific to the eight MDGs. As the MDGs constitute an important subset of
the sustainable development agenda, the MDG indicator necessarily have a
more limited coverage, with a strong focus on issues related to the poverty-
health nexus. Sustainable development issues that are not covered by the MDG
Indicators include demographics, natural hazards, governance and macroeco-
nomics. The area of consumption and production patterns, one of the three
overarching objectives and essential requirements of sustainable development, is
covered by one single MDG indicator (energy intensity), which incidentally will
be dropped from the MDG Indicators framework this year.
The focus of the MDG Indicators on global monitoring also imposes some
selection criteria that are less relevant for nationally oriented sets. For example,
since the MDG Indicators need to allow for meaningful regional and global
aggregation, they require data that are available and internationally comparable.
Moreover, the use of single-value indicators predominates since this allows for
easier presentation across time and countries or country groups. National-ori-
ented sets, such as the CSD indicators, may easily include multiple dimensions,
such as population groups, gender and sectoral breakdowns. The CSD indica-
tors can also include indicators which lack accepted adjustment methods for
cross-country comparisons or indicators for which countries have no time-series
data dating back to the 1990s.
The review of the CSD indicators has identified a number of inconsisten-
cies between previous definitions of CSD and MDG indicators, which have
been corrected in this new edition. The concurrent review of the MDG Indica-
tors lead to the inclusion of selected CSD indicators into the revised MDG
framework, especially in the areas of natural resources, biodiversity and
employment.
Table 3 shows the similarities between CSD and MDG Indicators. The
MDG indicator numbers are those assigned on the official list of MDG Indi-
cators, which has been effective since September 2003. Indicators formally
recommended for inclusion to the MDG indicators in 2007 are listed as
‘New’, as the numbering of indicators in the revised MDG monitoring frame-

work has not been completed. Indicators that are contained in the original list
of MDG Indicators, but are no longer part of the revised framework are
marked as ‘dropped’ in parenthesis to their original number. Indicators that
are not official MDG Indicators, but contained in the official MDG database
are marked as ‘Additional’. Indicators that are similar to CSD indicators but
not identical are marked with an asterisk. In most cases, differences relate to
the fact the CSD indicators have a different coverage in terms of countries or
definition covered. For example, the CSD indicator on ODA refers to all
countries that provide or receive development assistance, whereas the MDG
framework contains specific indicators for donors on the OECD/DAC list,
and recipients from least developed countries, landlocked developing coun-
tries and small island developing States. The CSD indicator on childhood
nutrition refers to underweight, stunting and overweight, whereas the corre-
sponding MDG indicator covers underweight only.
Table 3:
CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development,
MDG Indicators, Agenda 21 and JPOI
CSD Indicator of MDG Agenda 21 JPOI

Sustainable Development Indicator chapter chapter
Proportion of population living below Additional 3 (3.4 a) II (7a)

national poverty line
Proportion of population #1 3 (3.4 a) II (7a)
below $ 1 a day
Ratio of share in national income 3 V (47)
of highest to lowest quintile
Proportion of population using # 30 6 (6.12 e) II (8); IV (25)
an improved sanitation facility
Proportion of population using # 31 6 (6.12 e) II (8); IV (25)
improved water source
Share of households without electricity 7 (7.40) II (9 a)
or other modern energy services
Percentage of population using # 29 6 (6.41 b); 11 VI (56 d)
solid fuels for cooking (dropped) (11.21 b)

It should be noted, though, that data for receipts of ODA in all developing countries are
provided on the MDG database.

Proportion of urban population # 32 * 7 (7.8) II (11 a)

living in slums
Percentage of population 2 (2.32) I (4)
having paid bribes
Number of intentional homicides I (4)
per 100,000 population
Under-five mortality rate # 13 6 (6.24) VI (54 f )
Life expectancy at birth 6
Healthy life expectancy at birth 6
Percent of population with access 6 (6.4) VI (54 b)
to primary health care facilities
Immunization against infectious # 15 * 6 VI (54 f )
childhood diseases (6.12; 6.27)
Contraceptive prevalence rate # 19 c 5 (5.50); VI (54 j)
6 (6.12)
Nutritional status of children #4c 6 (6.27) VI (54 n)
Prevalence of tobacco use 6 VI (54 o)
Suicide rate 6 VI (54 o)

Morbidity of major diseases such # 18 *; #21 *; 6 (6.12) VI (55)
as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis # 23 *
Gross intake into last year of Additional 36 (36.4) II (7 g)
primary education X (116)
Net enrolment rate in primary #6 36 (36.4) II (7 g)
education X (116)
Adult secondary (tertiary) 36 II (7 g)
schooling attainment level X (120)
Life long learning 36 X (123)
Adult literacy rate #8* 36 (36.4) X (123)
Population growth rate 5 (5.17)
Total fertility rate New * 5 (5.17)
Dependency ratio 5 (5.17)
Ratio of local residents to tourists in 7 (7.20) IV (43)
major tourist regions and destinations
Percentage of population 7 (7.58) IV (37)
living in hazard prone areas
Human and economic loss 7 (7.58) IV (37)
due to natural disasters
Emissions of greenhouse gases 9 (9.11, 9.14 IV (38)
9.17, 9.20)

Carbon dioxide emissions # 28 a * 9 (9.11) IV (38)

Consumption of ozone # 28 b 9 (9.23) IV (39)
depleting substances
Ambient concentration of 9 (9.11, 9.14 IV (39);
air pollutants in urban areas 9.17) VI (56)
Land use change 10 (10.5)
Land degradation 14 (14.45) IV (41)
Land affected by desertification 12 IV (41)
Arable and permanent cropland area 14 IV (40)
Fertilizer use efficiency 14 (14.85) IV (40)
Use of agricultural pesticides 14 (14.75) IV (40)
Area under organic farming 14 IV (40)
Proportion of land area # 25 11 (11.12) IV (45)
covered by forests
Percent of forest trees 11 IV (45)
damaged by defoliation
Area of forest under 11 (11.12) IV (45)
sustainable forest management
Percentage of total population 17 IV (32)
living in coastal areas
Bathing water quality 17 IV( 33)
Proportion of fish stocks New 17 (17.46, IV (31)
within safe biological limits 17.75)
Proportion of marine # 26 * 15 (15.5 g), IV (32 a)
area protected 17
Marine trophic index 17 (17.46, IV (32 a)
17.75)
Area of coral reef ecosystems 15 (15.5 g), IV (32 d)
and percentage live cover 17
Proportion of total water resources used New 18 IV( 25 e, 26)
Water use intensity by economic activity 18 IV( 26)
Biochemical oxygen demand 18 (18.39) IV( 25 d)
in water bodies
Presence of faecal coliforms in 18 (18.39 c) IV( 25 d)
freshwater
Wastewater treatment 18 (18.39) IV( 25 d)
Proportion of terrestrial area protected, # 26 * 15 (15.5.g) IV (44)
total and by ecological region

Management effectiveness 15 (15.5.g) IV (44)

of protected areas
Area of selected key ecosystems 15 (15.5.g) IV (44)
Fragmentation of habitats 15 IV (44)
Abundance of selected key species 15 (15.5.g) IV (44)
Change in threat status of species New * 15 (15.5.h) IV (44)
Abundance of invasive alien species 15 IV (44)
GDP per capita 2 (2.34) X (83)
Investment share in GDP 2 (2.34) X (83)
Savings rate 2 (2.34) X (83)
Adjusted net savings 2 (2.34) X (83)
as percentage of GNI
Inflation rate 2 (2.34) X (83)
Debt to GNI ratio 2 (2.34), X (83, 89)
33 (33.14 e)
Employment-population ratio New 7, 14, 24 II (10 b)
Vulnerable employment New* 7, 14, 24 II (10 b)
Labor productivity and unit labor costs New * 14 II (10 a)
Share of women in wage employment # 11 24 II (7 d)
in the non-agricultural sector
Number of internet users # 48 40 V (52)
per 100 population
Fixed telephone lines # 47 a 40 V (52)
per 100 population
Mobile cellular telephone # 47 b 40 V (52)
subscribers per 100 population
Gross domestic expenditure 35 X (113)
on R&D as a percent of GDP
Tourism contribution to GDP 11(11.21), 13 IV (43)
(13.15)
Current account deficit 2 (2.9, 2.34) X (83, 92)
as percentage of GDP
Share of imports from developing 2 (2.9) V (47), X (92)
countries and from LDCs
Average tariff barriers imposed # 39 * 2 (2.9) V (47), X (92,
on exports from developing 93)
countries and LDCs
Net Official Development # 33 *; # 36 *; 33 (3.13) X (85)
Assistance (ODA) given or # 37 *
received as a percentage of GNI

Foreign direct investment (FDI) 33 (33.15) X (84)

net inflows and net outflows as
percentage of GDP
Remittances as percentage of GNI 33 X (83)
Material intensity of the economy 4 (4.18) III (15)
Domestic material consumption 4 III (15)
Annual energy consumption, 4 III (20)
total and by main user category
Share of renewable energy 4 III (20 c, d, e)
sources in total energy use
Intensity of energy use, total # 27 * 4 (4.18) III (20 h)
and by economic activity (dropped)
Generation of waste 21 (21.8) III (22)
Generation of hazardous waste 20 (20.11) III (23)
Waste treatment and disposal 21 (21.17) III (22)
Management of radioactive waste 22 (22.3) III (35)
Modal split of passenger transportation 4 III (21)
Modal split of freight transport 4 III (21)
Energy intensity of transport 4 III (21)
D. CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development, Agenda 21 and the

Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
The CSD indicators are deeply rooted in Agenda 21 where their development
is mandated. Even though later editions of the CSD indicators do not follow
the structure of Agenda 21 as the first edition did, the indicators are still very
closely related to it. Table 3 references all the chapters of Agenda 21 as they
relate to each CSD indicator. If a CSD indicator specifically addresses objec-
tives or activities described in Agenda 21, the paragraph is additionally listed in
brackets. Table 3 also correlates the CSD indicators to the Johannesburg Plan
of Implementation (JPOI), adopted in 2002 at the World Summit of Sustain-
able Development in Johannesburg. Due to the integrative nature of sustainable
development, both major conference outcome documents list certain objectives
and activities in multiple places (see appendices 1 and 2 for a comprehensive list
of their chapters). For simplicity reasons, Table 3 only lists key references. It is
not meant to be a complete reference.
Since almost all CSD indicators directly or indirectly correlate to

Agenda 21 and the JPOI, using the CSD indicators as basis for national indi-
cators of sustainable development can assist countries in monitoring national
implementation of their international commitments too. In this regard, the
CSD indicators are useful for measuring the outcome of policies towards
achieving sustainable development goals. However, they are not suited for
measuring the implementation of specific actions contained in these major
agreements on sustainable development.
29
IV. Applying CSD Indicators of

Sustainable Development
This chapter offers some guidance on how the CSD indicators can be uti-
lized by countries for the development or revision of national indicator sets.
As deviations from the previous set of CSD indicators are modest, countries
with national indicator sets in place may wish to consider the new set during
a regular review of their indicators rather than on an ad-hoc basis. The chapter
starts with an overview of selection criteria that should be taken into account. It
then presents a simple tool that can help countries to adapt CSD indicators to
national conditions. Finally, the chapter offers an example of the application of
CSD indicators to national development strategies.
A. Indicator selection

The selection of indicators is to a large extent determined by the purpose of the
indicator set. From their inception, the overarching purpose of the CSD indica-
tors has been to inform policy at the national level. In addition to using indica-
tors to assess overall progress towards sustainable development, many countries
successfully use them to measure success within the framework of their national
sustainable development strategy (NSDS).
Aside from their purpose, there are other important criteria for selecting
indicators for sustainable development. From the beginning, the CSD indicator
guidelines and methodologies have recommended that indicators for sustainable
development are:
1. primarily national in scope;
2. relevant to assessing sustainable development progress;
3. limited in number, but remaining open-ended
and adaptable to future needs;
4. b road in coverage of Agenda 21 and all aspects
of sustainable development;

United Nations, Indicators of Sustainable Development: Guidelines and Methodologies,
Second Edition, UN Sales Publication No. E.01.II.A.6 (New York, September 2001).
5. understandable, clear and unambiguous;

6. conceptually sound;
7. representative of an international consensus to the extent possible;
8. within the capabilities of national governments to develop; and
9. dependent on cost effective data of known quality.
The first criterion emphasizes the importance of using the indicators for
national level assessment. Criteria two through four, taken together, pose a chal-
lenge. The indicators should be both limited and sufficiently comprehensive to
capture the multidimensional nature of sustainable development. If too many
indicators are used, the results become unwieldly and difficult to interpret. As
discussed earlier, the CSD indicator set began with 134 indicators, but testing
by countries led to a drastic reduction. The introduction of smaller core sets
within the larger set makes sustainable development indicators more managea-
ble. Size will also be influenced by purpose: in general, as the purpose of the
indicators narrows, their number decreases.
Indicators need to be clear and unambiguous. Clarity of purpose and audi-
ence will instruct indicator clarity. Ambiguity is relative to context. For example,
in a country with low food security, an increase in arable and permanent crop-
land may be seen as positive, whereas in a country with agricultural overproduc-
tion due to subsidization it could be negative. The existence of voluntary targets
for indicators at the national level, for example within the context of an NSDS
or other strategy processes, will help to avoid such ambiguity. In many cases,
linkages among thematic issues easily lead to potential conflicts. For example,
high GDP growth is generally considered a positive sign of economic develop-
ment, but it is often associated with higher energy consumption, exploitation of
natural resources and negative impacts on environmental resources. In many
cases, it has also positive impacts on poverty alleviation. These potential conflicts
should not be seen as sign of ambiguity. Rather, such cases reinforce the need to
interpret results in a balanced and integrated manner.
Indicators should always be conceptually sound. However, especially in
new areas of interest, the demand for an indicator may precede its develop-
ment. In such cases, it may be advisable to bookmark the indicator with a
generic description and increase efforts to develop its conceptual underpin-
nings. In the meantime, a proxy indicator may be used as long as there is suffi-
Applying CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development 31
cient evidence that it is able to capture relevant phenomena that do not skew
the results.
The CSD indicators were developed through a collaborative approach that
involved Member States, United Nations system organizations, other intergov-
ernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations. Therefore, they
are based on a broad and informal consensus among international organiza-
tions. A major advantage for countries in adopting CSD indicators appropriate
to their national conditions is the opportunity to learn from the expertise, expe-
rience and perspective of a broad range of actors. For indicators that are used to
measure international commitments such as the MDGs, international compa-
rability is essential. In the years since the CSD pioneered the work on sustainable
development indicators, many countries have applied the CSD indicators and
adapted them to their specific needs. To assist in this process, the methodology
sheets of the CSD indicators available on the accompanying CD and on the
DSD homepage contain in many cases alternative indicators that may be more
applicable to a particular national context.
National capability may refer to the institutional capacity not only to mon-
itor and collect data but also to interpret and synthesize it into information use-
ful for decision-making. Over the past decade, the increased emphasis on infor-
mation-based decision making has led to improved efforts to build capacity in
this regard especially in developing countries. The continuation and accelera-
tion of these efforts will further enhance the applicability of indicators of sus-
tainable development.
Despite major advances over the last decade, data availability and reliabil-
ity continue to be a problem in many countries. To increase cost effectiveness,
the CSD indicators often require data that are routinely collected either by
national statistical services or through international processes, for example
through the routine work of United Nations specialized agencies or in the
MDG context. Many indicators rely on data contained in national accounts,
and progress made in the adoption of the system of national accounts (SNA)
will also improve data availability. Implementation of the system of environ-
mental-economic accounting (SEEA) will not only further increase availabil-
ity of data and indicators, but also massively improve the possibility for further

For a very useful and free-of-charge tool to manage development data that has been
developed in cooperation with the United Nations system, see http://www.devinfo.org.
integrated analysis of the indicators, which is necessary for developing appro-

priate policy interventions.
B. Adapting CSD Indicators of

Sustainable Development for national sets
The CSD indicators meet the criteria described. Nonetheless, countries may
wish to tailor the indicators to respond to national needs and circumstances.
This section presents a tool that could be useful for such adaptation. It is a
simple matrix, with data availability and relevance as the two dimensions in
which countries can place the CSD indicators in order to check their suitability
and their need for adjustment. It should be stressed that other indicator sets
that could be used as a basis for national sustainable development indicators
should be adapted as well. Therefore, this tool could, for example, also be useful
if MDG indicators, sustainable development indicators used by other coun-
tries, or national indicator sets used for other purposes are used as additional
reference.
As discussed in the previous section, data availability is a critical issue. In
general, data required for the CSD indicators are available at the national level
from a variety of institutions that collect and manage the data, but there may be
some gaps. National statistical offices are the major data source in most coun-
tries. In general, this holds for national and satellite account data, census data as
well as data derived from major surveys. Other ministries and government agen-
cies are also major data sources, especially for data from surveys or administra-
tive records. Regional and international organization also collect and manage
data from various national sources, and could be consulted directly in cases
where the data are not readily available at the national level. National reports to
intergovernmental processes, including multilateral environmental agreements,
are often another data source, in some cases only weakly linked to regular
national statistical procedures. The methodology sheets of the CSD indicators
on the accompanying CD contain generic information on both national and
international data sources that should facilitate the assessment of CSD indica-
tors with regard to availability at the national level.
In adapting CSD indicators to national sets, it may be useful to classify
each indicator in one of four categories of data availability: fully available; poten-
tially available; related data available; and not available.
The first category is obviously the preferred one. The second one, indicators
with potentially available data, contains those cases where data could be made
available within a reasonable timeframe and with reasonable costs. Existing
regular surveys can often be extended to include a few additional questions.
Moreover, this category would encompass indicators for which there are plans to
increase capacity for data collection, storage and management. The third cate-
gory contains those indicators where important data are missing, but there are
data that could be used to compute related indicators. For example, in the
absence of data on the use of vehicles (such as kilometres traveled), administra-
tive data on car registrations could be used to construct an indicator (e.g., regis-
tered cars by 100,000 inhabitants). Investment in data collection, including
capacity-building, will result in more data being available. This cost will need to
be weighed against the potential loss in planning and decision-making capacity
brought about by using a related, but less accurate indicator.
Relevance is the second dimension of the adaptation matrix. Again, the
introduction of four different categories in which CSD indicators can be placed
could be useful: relevant; related indicator relevant; relevant but missing;
irrelevant.
Most indicators should be relevant and fall into the first category. The sec-
ond category covers indicators that are not themselves directly relevant for the
purpose, but are closely related to relevant indicators. It may also contain
national indicators that address the same issue as CSD indicators but measure it
differently. For example, the CSD indicators contain a number of indicators
measuring objective dimensions of the health status (disease prevalence, nutri-
tional status, immunization), but some countries use instead a subjective indica-
tor on people’s satisfaction with the health status, based on survey data. There
may also be CSD indicators where the underlying issue is closely related, but not
identical to a national issue. For example, countries whose strategies include
regional trade integration may want to monitor the share of trade with regional
partners rather than share of trade with developing countries.
The third category encompasses relevant issues that are not covered by the
CSD indicators either because they are relevant and available to a few countries
only or because of the desire to keep the CSD set relatively small. Examples
include food safety, participation in public decision-making processes or linguis-
tic diversity. Indicators for these issues would have to be taken from other avail-
able indicator sets. Alternatively, underlying issues rather than concrete indica-
tors may be inserted. In general, though, this third category is expected to have
few entries.
The last category—irrelevant indicator—would contain indicators cover-
ing issues that are not meaningful in context, for example the indicator of coastal
population would be irrelevant for landlocked countries.
Figure 1 shows how the two dimensions, data availability and relevance, can
be combined in a simple matrix in which the CSD indicators can be placed.
Figure 1:
Matrix for adapting CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development
Relevance
Related
indicator Relevant
Relevant relevant but missing Irrelevant
Available
Data availability
Potentially
available
Related data
available
Not available
Legend To be used To be
identified
To be To be
modified removed
The black boxes contain those CSD indicators that can be incorporated
without any changes to national indicators. The dark grey boxes are for those
CSD indicators that have to be modified for a given country, either because
there exist related and more relevant or specific indicators or because data for the
original indicator cannot be made available. The light grey boxes contain those
indicators important for a country but not included in the CSD set. The task of
identifying appropriate indicators could then include assessing the availability of
data. As indicated above, the number of indicators in those boxes should be
quite small. The remaining blank boxes would include any CSD indicators that
a country does not consider useful.
Adapting the CSD indicators to national conditions may also require
adapting the framework. The thematic framework of the CSD indicators is very
flexible in this regard. Sub-themes, or even themes, can easily be merged or split
as needed. Aligning the indicator framework with the framework chosen for a
national sustainable development strategy is also feasible in most cases.
C. Indicators as tools for measuring sustainable development

processes at the national level
National strategies are important mechanisms to translate national goals of
sustainable development into concrete policies and actions. Their central role
has already been recognized by virtually all countries in Agenda 21 and coun-
tries agreed on time-bound targets to develop and implement national sustain-
able development strategies (NSDS) at the Special Session of the UN General
Assembly on the review of Agenda 21 in 199710 and in the Johannesburg Plan
of Implementation.11,12
An NSDS can be defined as “a coordinated, participatory and iterative
process of thoughts and actions to achieve economic, environmental and social
objectives in a balanced and integrative manner.”13 Whereas no ‘blueprint’ for a
strategy is feasible or desirable, there is agreement on the five principles that dis-
tinguish an NSDS: (1) country ownership and commitment; (2) integrated eco-
nomic, social and environmental policy across sectors, territories and genera-
tions; (3) broad participation and effective partnerships; (4) development of the
necessary capacity and enabling environment; and (5) focus on outcomes and
means of implementation.
Because NSDS are defined by their process and principles, the actual name
of the strategy is not important. It may be a national development strategy, a
10
Programme of Action for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, paragraph 24.
11
JPOI, Chapter XI, para 162 (b).
12
Updated information on progress made in fulfilling the commitment to make progress
in the formulation, elaboration and implementation of such strategies by 2005 can be
found at http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/natlinfo/nsds/nsdsMap.htm.
13
UN DESA (2002), Guidance in Preparing a National Sustainable Development Strategy:
Managing Sustainable Development in a new Millennium, DESA/DSD/PC2/BP13.
poverty reduction strategy, a MDG-based strategy or any similar comprehensive

and multi-sectoral strategy, as long as it conforms to the criteria of an NSDS.
The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation explicitly recognizes this; countries
in general are encouraged not to run parallel strategy processes: it is wasteful of
resources and confusing in outcome.
Indicators, in general, play a major role in various stages of an NSDS:
Assessment, monitoring, reporting and evaluation. Moreover, taking indicators
into account during the formulation stage also helps ensuring that the NSDS is
concrete and measurable. The CSD indicators, in particular, are valuable tools
in all these stages of an NSDS.
Given their broad coverage of sustainable development issues, their national
orientation, and detailed methodological description, CSD indicators can easily
be adapted to national conditions, and as such, become valuable tools for assess-
ing national sustainable development goals.
Monitoring is necessary for the effective implementation of a strategy, and
it helps prevent the strategy from becoming a mere list of intentions. Monitor-
ing facilitates the adjustment of policy interventions to changing conditions
during implementation. It promotes a culture of learning, providing a basis for
improved strategies in subsequent iterations, and it enhances the performance of
key actors in implementation by allowing for better accountability. Moreover,
together with appropriate reporting procedures, monitoring promotes public
interest and information on sustainable development.
One can distinguish three broad areas of an NSDS that require monitor-
ing: (1) actions and activities included in the NSDS; (2) impact of the NSDS;
and (3) overall progress towards sustainable development. Indicators for moni-
toring task (1) are outside the scope of this publication. They could be seen as
management indicators and will typically closely follow the formulation of the
strategy and action plans. Ensuring accountability of actors and stakeholders is
a main purpose of actively using such indicators. Indicators for monitoring tasks
(2) and (3) are closely related, because the objective of the NSDS is to make
development more sustainable. They differ especially with regard to coverage. As
an NSDS typically identifies priorities and targets, not all issues relevant for sus-
tainable development will be included in a focused strategy. Monitoring of issues
outside the strategy, however, is still warranted as it can assist the adjustment of
an NSDS during the implementation cycle.
The CSD indicators, adapted to national situations, can play a mayor role
in monitoring tasks (1) and (2). However, in adapting the indicators for moni-
toring the impact of the strategy, additional selection criteria should be consid-
ered. Indicators should also be responsive to policies and actions included in the
strategy. In many cases, a further breakdown of CSD indicators by target group
increases the responsiveness. Moreover, monitoring indicators should be timely.
Therefore, indicators relying on large surveys and censuses that are conducted
infrequently and that require long processing times require special attention in
this regard. In these cases, simple surveys, concentrating on main target groups
only, may offer timely indicators for monitoring the strategy impact.
Appropriate reporting mechanisms for disseminating monitoring results
are critical for generating feedback from stakeholders that leads to improved
strategies and their implementation. In this regard, it is important that reporting
is adapted to the varying needs of the different target audiences, including the
public-at-large, stakeholder organizations, parliaments, political decision-mak-
ers, and, in many developing countries, external donors. Different but coherent
reporting formats may be used to address these audiences effectively.
Monitoring results can be integrated into broader NSDS progress reports.
Main findings are usually contained in executive summaries intended to address
policy-makers. Most reports go beyond the values of the chosen indicators and
include analytical information, often of direct policy relevance. Extent, methods
and format of the analysis differ according to the audience. It may be advisable
to include a basic analysis in the standard NSDS reports, but to conduct more
detailed analysis with less frequency. Short brochures using indicators to dem-
onstrate strategy implementation are an effective and user-friendly means of
addressing the public-at-large. Simple symbols, such as arrows or traffic-lights,
indicating progress or regress by indicator can be used to communicate progress
on sustainable development in a country. In many countries, the internet can be
an effective means of reporting on updated indicator values. For many develop-
ing countries, the existence of multiple project-specific reporting requirements
attached to different externally funded development projects often poses addi-
tional organizational and institutional challenges.
Evaluation is a critical part of an NSDS as it assesses whether the strategy
was effective in meeting its goals and targets; whether it was implemented effi-
ciently; and whether it is likely to have long-lasting impact. Unlike monitoring,
which is a continuous effort, evaluation is conducted only periodically. Major

revisions or expiration of the NSDS will typically involve an evaluation, but
intermediate evaluations are also advisable, depending on the timeframe of the
NSDS, changes in external conditions, uncertainty over linkages between poli-
cies and sustainable development outcomes and resources available. As an NSDS
often includes a list of activities or projects whose funding requires specific eval-
uations, it is important that overall evaluation of the strategy makes full use of
these project-specific evaluations. However, these do not substitute for an overall
strategy evaluation, as only the latter can incorporate policy linkages and address
the question whether priority areas are set appropriately.
The indicators used for monitoring the NSDS evidently play an important
role in the evaluation, as they allow establishing whether the strategy has achieved
its targets. However, in order to answer the question of effectiveness, evaluation
also has to validate, and often to quantify, the assumed linkages between NSDS
actions and development outcomes and impacts. Given the complexity and the
continuing limits of understanding sustainable development, this particular
challenge is unlikely to provide definite answers.
For assessing the effectiveness of the NSDS, the evaluation has, in princi-
ple, to include an assessment of alternative policy interventions. Therefore,
multiple methods such as comparisons with non-target groups, cross-country
comparisons, or econometric modeling are likely to be employed.
39
V. A word on indicator frameworks
Indicators of sustainable development at the national level are often developed

through dynamic interactive processes and dialogues among a wide range of
stakeholders, including government representatives, technical experts and civil
society representatives. The process allows participants to define sustainability
from their own perspectives, taking locally relevant aspects as well as their own
value systems into account.
Conceptual frameworks for indicators help to focus and clarify what to
measure, what to expect from measurement and what kinds of indicators to use.
Diversity of core values, indicator processes and sustainable development theo-
ries have resulted in the development and application of different frameworks.
The main differences among them are the ways in which they conceptualize the
key dimensions of sustainable development, the inter-linkages among these
dimensions, the way they group the issues to be measured, and the concepts by
which they justify the selection and aggregation of indicators.
A. Driving force-state-response frameworks

The initial set of 134 CSD indicators, published in 1996, was organized in a
driving force, state and response (DSR) framework, a variation of the pressure-
state-response framework. Each indicator in the DSR framework is classified as
a driving force, state, or response. Driving force indicators describe processes
or activities that have a positive or a negative impact on sustainable develop-
ment (for example pollution or school enrolment). State indicators describe the
current situation (for example nutritional status of children or land covered by
forests), whereas response indicators reflect societal actions aimed at moving
towards sustainable development. The first CSD indicators were additionally
grouped according to the dimensions of sustainable development—social, eco-
nomic, environmental as well as institutional, and matched to the relevant chap-
ters of Agenda 21.
Whereas variations of the pressure-state-response framework continue to
be used in more environmentally oriented indicator sets, the revision of the
CSD indicators in 2001 discontinued the DSR framework mainly because it
was not suited to addressing the complex interlinkages among issues; the classi-
fication of indictors into driving force, state or response was often ambiguous;
there were uncertainties over causal linkages; and it did not adequately high-
light the relationship between the indicators and policy issues. Consequently,
the second CSD indicators, which were still organized along the four dimen-
sions of sustainable development, were embedded in a more flexible theme/
sub-theme framework.
B. Issue- or theme-based frameworks

Issue- or theme-based frameworks are the most widely used type of frameworks,
especially in official national indicator sets. In these frameworks, indicators are
grouped into various different issues relating to sustainable development. The
issues or themes are typically determined on the basis of policy relevance. Most
countries in all regions of the world that have developed national sustainable
development indicators have based them on a thematic framework. This is
also true of regional strategies and indicator programmes, such as the indica-
tors used in the Baltic 21 Action Programme, the Mediterranean Sustainable
Development Strategy and the Sustainable Development Indicators for the
European Union.
A main reason for the prominence of thematic frameworks is their ability
to link indicators to policy processes and targets. This provides a clear and direct
message to decision-makers and facilitates both communicating with and rais-
ing the awareness of the public. A thematic framework for indicators is also well
suited to monitor progress in attaining the objectives and goals stipulated in
national sustainable development strategies. It is flexible enough to adjust to
new priorities and policy targets over time.
C. Capital frameworks

There are other approaches to measuring sustainable development. Among
them, the capital approach has found a lot of attention. It attempts to calculate
national wealth as a function of the sum of and interaction among different
kinds of capital, including not only financial capital and produced capital goods,
but also natural, human, social and institutional capital. This requires that all
forms of capital be expressed in common terms, usually in monetary terms.
The frameworks for sustainable development indicators based on this

approach vary, but, in general, they all try to identify first what development is,
and, second, how development can be made sustainable. This draws attention
“to what resources we have at our disposal today, and towards the issue whether
we manage these in ways that make it possible to maintain and further develop
the resource base over time.”14
Explicit in the capital approach is the notion of substitutability between
different types of capital, which is indeed a complex issue. There are clear exam-
ples of substitutability—machines for human labor, renewable for non-renewa-
ble sources of energy, synthetics for some natural resources. And future techno-
logical innovation and human ingenuity may greatly expand the scope. However,
there may also be assets that are fundamental and for which no substitution is
possible. This could include, for example, a reasonably stable climate or biologi-
cal diversity.
There remain many challenges to using a capital framework. Among them
are disagreement about how to express all forms of capital in monetary terms;
problems of data availability; questions about substitution; and the integration
of intra-generational equity concerns within and across countries. Nonetheless,
the concept of using capital as a way to track sustainable development could be
a powerful tool for decision-making, and work in this area should be
encouraged.
D. Accounting frameworks

Indicator systems based on accounting frameworks draw all indicators from a
single database allowing for sectoral aggregation and using consistent classifica-
tions and definitions. The most prominent example in this regard is the System
of Integrated Environmental and Economic Accounting (SEEA) pioneered by
the United Nations Statistical Commission with the International Monetary
Fund, the World Bank, the European Commission and OECD. The SEEA
extends national accounting to environmental aspects through a satellite system
of accounts. It is, thus, clearly linked to the standard system of national accounts
14
Knut H. Alfsen, and Thorvald Moe, “An International Framework for Constructing Na-
tional Indicators for Policies to Enhance Sustainable Development. Background paper
prepared for the UN Expert Group meeting on Indicators of Sustainable Development,
13-15 December 2005, p. 7.
(SNA). The SEEA includes accounts expressed in monetary terms as well as

accounts in physical terms. It allows for the construction of a common database
from which some of the most common sustainable development indicators in
the economic and environmental spheres can be derived in a consistent manner.
Several countries are using the SEEA, and it is in the process of being proposed
as an international statistical standard.15
Integrated national account frameworks such as the SEEA were not set up
specifically to address sustainable development and therefore do not, at least not
yet, take into account two of the four pillars of sustainable development—the
social and institutional pillars Nevertheless, some of these concerns are being
addressed through efforts both to expand the system by incorporating human
capital and to explore the possibility of linking the frameworks with social
accounting matrices (SAM) which have been developed in consistency with the
national accounts.16
Implementation of the SEEA would improve systems of sustainable devel-
opment indicators embedded in capital frameworks as well as those based on
thematic frameworks. In case of capital frameworks, the SEEA facilitates mov-
ing from modeled and estimated data towards directly obtained capital meas-
ures. For thematic frameworks, the SEEA is especially useful if the indicators are
used for monitoring and evaluation of development strategies. By basing indica-
tors in a consistent database allowing for meaningful sectoral and spatial disag-
gregation, progress towards specific targets included in a strategy as well as cross-
sectoral impacts can be consistently assessed.
In this new edition, the CSD indicators further strengthen the relationship
with the SEEA by increasingly adopting definitions and classifications contained
in the SEEA and in many cases by introducing sectoral breakdowns based on
standard classifications.
15
See United Nations et al (2003), SEEA Handbook, for the details on the SEEA and United
Nations Statistical Commission (2006), report E/2006/24 and especially document E/
CN.3/2006/9 for procedural aspects.
16
Laszlo Pinter, Peter Hardi and Peter Bartelmus, “Indicators of Sustainable Development:
Proposals for a Way Forward Discussion Paper prepared under a consultant agreement
on behalf of the UN Division for Sustainable Development. Expert Group Meeting on
Indicators of Sustainable Development, 13-15 December 2005 (New York). Document
No. UNDSD/EGM/ISD/2005/CRP.2.
E. Aggregated indicators

There have been several efforts to develop aggregated indicators to capture ele-
ments of sustainable development. Most aggregate indicators are primarily used
for raising public awareness and receive notable attention in the media. Rather
than offering a comprehensive view of sustainable development, many of these
indicators are specifically focussed on the environmental dimension of sustain-
able development and resource management.
Examples of such indicators include the Ecological Footprint, the Environ-
mental Sustainability Index (ESI) and the Environmental Performance Index
(EPI). The Ecological Footprint, originally developed by Wackernagel and Rees
(1996)17, translates human resource consumption and waste generation in a
country or any other entity into a measure of biological productive land and
water and relates it to a measure of biological capacity. Both ESI and EPI have
been developed by the Center for Environmental Law and Policy at Yale Univer-
sity and the Center of International Earth Science Information Network
(CIESIN) at Columbia University in collaboration with the World Economic
Forum and others. The ESI, integrates 76 data sets—tracking natural resource
endowments, past and present pollution levels, environmental management
efforts and the capacity of a society to improve its environmental perform-
ance—into 21 indicators and finally into a single index. 18 The EPI aggregates
16 indicators related to resource depletion, pollution, environmental impact
and energy efficiency into an index aimed at measuring policy impact. 19
More comprehensive aggregated indicators on sustainable development
include the Adjusted Net Saving and the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI).
Adjusted Net Saving was developed by the World Bank. It is calculated by sub-
tracting monetary values for resource depletion and damage caused by air pollu-
tion from traditional net savings derived from national accounts, and adding
expenditures on education.20 This indicator is also included in the set of CSD
indicators in the economic development theme. The GPI, developed and main-
17
Wackernagel, M. and W. Rees (1996), Our Ecological Footprint: Reducing Human
Impact on the Earth, New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island. See also http://www.
footprintnetwork.org.
18
See http://www.yale.edu/esi/ for details.
19
See http://www.yale.edu/epi/ for details.
20
Methodologies, publication an data on this indicator are available on the website of the
World Bank, see http://go.worldbank.org/3AWKN2ZOY0.
tained by Redefining Progress, modifies GDP by adding economic contribu-

tions of household and volunteer work, but subtracting factors such as crime,
pollution, and family breakdown in order to arrive at a measure of well-being.21
It is related to the Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare (ISEW) developed by
Daly and Cobb (1989).22
All these indicators face significant challenges to aggregation related to data
availability, methodologies, selection of variables and, in case of indexes, weigh-
ing of the variables. Nonetheless, this ongoing work represents important
attempts to aggregate a broad range of variables in order to convey a message
that is easy for both decision-makers and civil society to understand.
F. Other indicator approaches

There are other approaches to using indicators for sustainable development
outside of formal frameworks. For example, there is a trend to construct issue-
specific sets of sustainable development indicators. At the national level, these
are most likely to be used by ministries or NGOs to track policy implemen-
tation and to inform the public. At the international level, prominent exam-
ples include biodiversity indicators developed to measure progress towards the
internationally agreed target of significantly reducing the loss of biodiversity by
201023, the energy indicators of sustainable development24, or the sustainable
tourism indicators25.
There is also increasing use of headline indicators by both countries and
organizations. These tend to be small core sets of indicators closely linked to
policy priorities that provide quick and visible signals to policy-makers and to
the general public. Headline indicators usually co-exist with larger sets of indica-
tors for more comprehensive policy-making and monitoring. A potential prob-
21
See http://www.redefiningprogress.org/newprograms/sustIndi/gpi/index.shtml.
22
Daly, H. and J.B. Cobb (1989), For the common good: Redirecting the economy toward
the community, the environment and a sustainable future, Beacon Press, Boston.
23
See Convention on Biological Diversity (2002) and World Summit of Sustainable De-
velopment (2002) for the exact text. Work on the indicators is coordinated by the 2010
Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (www.twentyten.net).
24
See IAEA et al. (2005), Energy Indicators for Sustainable Development: Guidelines and
Methodologies.
25
See United Nations World Tourism Organization (2004), Indicators of Sustainable Devel-
opment for Tourism Destinations: A Guidebook.
lem with headline indicators in that they could be used for politics, rather than
policy; that is, their choice could reflect current political priorities rather than
significant issues influencing future sustainability. Used correctly, however,
headline indicators are excellent means of attracting media attention, raising
public awareness and supplementing pedagogical materials for primary and sec-
ondary education.
47
VI. Description of CSD Indicators

of Sustainable Development
This chapter contains a short description of all CSD indicators. Detailed infor-
mation is available in the methodology sheets contained in the accompanying
CD-Rom as well as on the internet at http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/natlinfo/
indicators/isd.htm
A. Poverty
PROPORTION OF POPULATION LIVING BELOW NATIONAL

POVERTY LINE
Sub-theme: Income poverty Core indicator
Brief definition: The proportion of the population with a standard of liv-
ing below the poverty line as defined by the national government. National
estimates are based on population-weighted subgroup estimates derived from
household surveys.
Description: The indicator (also known as national poverty rate) is a stand-
ard measure of poverty, especially income poverty. It provides information on
progress towards poverty alleviation, a central objective and requirement of
sustainable development. The national poverty rate is one of the core meas-
ures of living standards and it draws attention exclusively towards the poor.
PROPORTION OF POPULATION BELOW $ 1 PER DAY

Sub-theme: Income poverty
Brief definition: The proportion of the population having per capita con-
sumption of less than $1.08 a day, measured at 1993 international prices.
Description: The population below $1 a day provides a uniform meas-
ure of absolute poverty for the developing world, using data from nationally
representative household surveys. Progress against absolute poverty is now a
widely accepted yardstick for assessing the overall performance of developing
economies.
Ratio of share in national income of highest to

lowest quintile
Sub-theme: Income inequality
Brief definition: The ratio of the share in national income (or consump-
tion) accruing to the highest 20 percent of the population to the share accru-
ing to the lowest 20 percent.
Description: The indicator shows the extent of inequality in income dis-
tribution within a country. Inequality in outcomes such as income or con-
sumption and inequality in opportunities hinder human development and
are detrimental to long-term economic growth. Poor people generally have
less voice, less income, and less access to services than wealthier people. When
societies become more equitable in ways that lead to greater opportunities
for all, the poor stand to benefit from a “double dividend.” Empirical studies
suggest that the impact of growth on poverty reduction is greater when initial
income inequality is lower.
Proportion of population using an improved

sanitation facility
Sub-theme: Sanitation Core indicator
Brief definition: Proportion of population with access to a private sani-
tary facility for human excreta disposal in the dwelling or immediate vicinity.
Improved sanitary facilities range from simple but protected pit latrines to
flush toilets with sewerage.
Description: The provision of adequate sanitation is necessary for poverty
alleviation and to protect human health and the environment. The indicator
monitors progress in the accessibility of the population to sanitation facilities,
a basic and essential social service. Accessibility to adequate excreta disposal
facilities is fundamental to decrease the faecal risk and frequency of associated
diseases. When broken down by geographic (such as rural/urban zones) or
social or economic criteria, it also provides tangible evidence of inequities.
Proportion of Population using an improved Water source

Sub-theme: Drinking water Core indicator
Brief definition: Proportion of population with access to an improved
drinking water source in a dwelling or located within a convenient distance
Description of CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development 49
from the user’s dwelling. Improved drinking water sources include bottled
water; rainwater; protected boreholes springs and wells; public stand-pipes
and piped connections to houses.
Description: The provision of adequate sanitation is necessary for poverty
alleviation and to protect human health and the environment. The indicator
monitors progress in the accessibility of the population to improved water
sources. Accessibility to improved water sources is fundamental to decrease
the faecal risk and frequency of associated diseases. It is also a universal human
development indicator. When broken down by geographic (such as rural/
urban zones) or social or economic criteria, it also provides tangible evidence
of inequities.
Share of households without electricity or other modern

energy services
Sub-theme: Access to energy Core indicator
Brief definition: Share of households without access to electricity, and
share of households using ‘traditional’ non-commercial energy options, such
as fuelwood, crop wastes and dung, as primary fuel for cooking and heating.
Description: The indicator monitors progress in accessibility and afford-
ability of modern energy services including electricity. Electricity and other
modern energy services are an essential component of providing basic social
services. Lack of access to modern energy services contributes to poverty
and deprivation and limits economic development. Furthermore, adequate,
affordable and reliable energy services are necessary to guarantee sustainable
economic and human development.
PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION USING SOLID FUELS FOR COOKING

Sub-theme: Access to energy
Brief definition: Percentage of population using solid fuels as source for
cooking. Solid fuels include biomass fuels, such as wood, charcoal, crops or
other agricultural waste, dung, shrubs and straw, and coal.
Description: The indicator covers multiple sustainable development
issues. Most importantly, the use of solid fuels in households is a proxy
for indoor air pollution, which is associated with increased mortality from
pneumonia and other acute lower respiratory infections among children as

well as increased mortality from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and
lung cancer (where coal is used) among adults. High demand for biomass
fuels to meet household energy needs can contribute to deforestation and
subsequent land degradation. The indicator also measures access to modern
energy services, central to poverty alleviation and sustainable development
in general.
Proportion of urban population living in slums

Sub-theme: Living conditions Core indicator
Brief definition: The proportion of urban population lacking at least one
of the following five housing conditions: Access to improved water; access
to improved sanitation facilities; sufficient, not overcrowded, living area;
structural quality/durability of dwellings; security of tenure.
Description: This is a key indicator measuring the adequacy of shelter. Over-
crowding, inadequate housing, lack of water and sanitation are manifestations
of poverty. They deprive residents from their human rights, are associated with
certain categories of health risks and are often detriments to future develop-
ment. An increase of this indicator is sign of deteriorating living conditions in
urban areas. Disaggregating the indicator by type of housing conditions gives
further information on the severity of inadequate living conditions.
B. Governance
Percentage of population having paid bribes

Sub-theme: Corruption Core indicator
Brief definition: Percentage of population having been asked or having
complied to expectation by government officials to pay a bribe for his or her
services.
Description: The indicator measures prevalence of corruption among gov-
ernment officials through crime surveys. A decline of this indicator is a sign
of progress on the corruption component of good governance. Good govern-
ance is essential for sustainable development.
Number of Recorded intentional homicides per 100,000

Population
Sub-theme: Crime Core indicator
Brief Definition: Number of intentional homicides recorded in criminal
(police) statistics. Countries with sufficiently reliable crime statistics may
wish to expand the indicator by including violent crimes, such as assault, rape
and/or robbery.
Description: The indicator measures the development of intentional homi-
cides over time. Intentional homicides, as well as violent crimes, have a very
significant negative impact on sustainable development. The phenomenon of
crime compromises human dignity, creates a climate of fear and erodes the
quality of life. The indicator can also be used as a measure for the adherence
to the rule of law, a component of good governance.
C. Health
UNDER-FIVE MORTALITY RATE

Sub-theme: Mortality Core indicator
Brief definition: Under-five mortality rate refers to the probability of
dying before age 5. It is expressed as deaths per 1,000 live births.
Description: This indicator measures the risk of dying in infancy and early
childhood. In high-mortality settings, a large fraction of all deaths occurs at
ages under 5 years. Under-five mortality levels are influenced by the avail-
ability, accessibility and quality of health services; education, particularly of
mothers; access to safe water and sanitation; poverty and nutrition, among
other factors.
Life Expectancy at Birth

Sub-theme: Mortality Core indicator
Brief definition: The average number of years that a newborn could expect
to live, if he or she were to pass through life subject to the age-specific death
rates of a given period.
Description: The indicator measures how many years on average a new-
born is expected to live, given current age-specific mortality risks. Life
expectancy at birth is an indicator of mortality conditions and, by proxy, of

health conditions.
Healthy Life Expectancy at Birth

Sub-theme: Mortality
Brief definition: The average equivalent number of years of full health
that a newborn could expect to live, if he or she were to pass through life
subject to the age-specific death rates and ill-health rates of a given period.
Description: Healthy life expectancy (HALE) provides a summary of
overall health conditions for a population, which are in turn an integral part
of development. HALE captures both fatal and non-fatal health outcomes
and provides a more complete picture of the impact of morbidity and mortal-
ity on populations, than life expectancy alone.
PERCENT OF POPULATION WITH ACCESS TO PRIMARY HEALTH

CARE FACILITIES
Sub-theme: Health care delivery Core indicator
Brief definition: Proportion of population with access to primary health
care facilities. Primary health care is defined as essential health care made
accessible at a cost the country and community can afford, with methods that
are practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable.
Description: The indicator monitors progress in the access of the popula-
tion to primary health care. Accessibility of health services, going beyond
just physical access, and including economic, social and cultural accessibility
and acceptability, is of fundamental significance to reflect on health system
progress, equity and sustainable development.
Immunization Against Infectious Childhood Diseases

Sub-theme: Health care delivery Core indicator
Brief definition: The percent of the eligible population that have been
immunized according to national immunization policies. The definition
includes three components: (i) the proportion of children immunized
against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, poliomyelitis, tuberculosis
and hepatitis B before their first birthday; (ii) the proportion of children
immunized against yellow fever in affected countries of Africa; and (iii) the
proportion of women of child-bearing age immunized against tetanus.
Description: This indicator monitors the implementation of immuniza-
tion programs. Good management of immunization programmes is essential
to the reduction of morbidity and mortality from major childhood infectious
diseases, and is integral to the achievement of sustainable development.
CONTRACEPTIVE PREVALENCE RATE

Sub-theme: Health care delivery
Brief definition: This indicator is generally defined as the percentage of
women of reproductive age (15-49 yrs) using any method of contraception
at a given point in time. It is usually calculated for women married or in
union of reproductive age, but sometimes for other base population, such as
all women of reproductive age at risk of pregnancy.
Description: The measure indicates the extent of couples conscious
efforts and capabilities to control their fertility. Contraceptive prevalence
is also an indicator of access to reproductive health services, an important
element of primary health care. Reproductive health programmes, which
include family planning, are among the factors that promote changes in
demographic behaviour and trends, which in turn affect sustainability and
development. The health benefits of contraceptive use include the ability
to prevent unwanted pregnancies, thereby reducing the resort to induced
abortion as well as potential complications of pregnancy and the risks of
maternal mortality.
NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN

Sub-theme: Nutritional status Core indicator
Brief definition: Percentage of underweight (weight-for-age below -2
standard deviation (SD) of the WHO Child Growth Standards median)
among children under five years of age; percentage of stunting (height-for-age
below -2 SD of the WHO Child Growth Standards median) among children
under five years of age; and percentage of overweight (weight-for-height above
+2 SD of the WHO Child Growth Standards median) among children under
five years of age.
Description: The purpose of this indicator is to measure long term nutri-

tional imbalance and malnutrition resulting in undernutrition (assessed by
underweight and stunting) and overweight. Anthropometric measurements
to assess growth and development, particularly in young children, are the
most widely used indicators of nutritional status in a community.
Morbidity of major Diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria,

tuberculosis
Sub-theme: Health status and risks Core indicator
Brief definition: Prevalence and/or incidence of major diseases such as
HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis. The indicator is measured separately for
relevant major diseases, typically in cases per 100,000 people.
Description: The indicator measures the morbidity caused by major diseases.
The goals of sustainable development can only be achieved in the absence of a
high prevalence of debilitating diseases. HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and
other diseases are major impediments to sustainable development, especially
in many developing countries. The indicator also provides information on the
success of measures to fight major diseases. For that purpose, especially over a
longer horizon, measuring death rates of major diseases is also important.
PREVALENCE of tobacco use

Sub-theme: Health status and risks
Brief definition: The indicator is defined as the percentage of the popula-
tion aged 15 years or older that daily smokes any tobacco product. It is calcu-
lated from the responses to individual or household surveys that are nationally
representative.
Description: Prevalence of current daily tobacco smoking among adults is
a measure useful to determine of the economic and future health burden of
tobacco use, and provides a primary basis for evaluating the effectiveness of
tobacco control programmes over time. Tobacco is an undisputable health
threat causing 5.4 million deaths in 2005, and representing the second risk
factor for mortality worldwide. Tobacco consumption is costly and con-
tributes to poverty and associated health inequalities at the individual and
national levels. Studies have shown that prevalence is higher among the poor
illustrating a negative association between prevalence and household income
and/or wealth. The cost of treatment of tobacco-caused diseases is high and

falls heavily on the finances of poor households and countries. Premature
deaths from tobacco-related diseases also lead to productivity losses.
Suicide rate
Sub-theme: Health status and risks
Brief definition: The number of deaths from suicide and intentional self-
harm per 100 000 people.
Description: The indicator is an important proxy for the prevalence of
mental health disorders in a country, as mental health disorders, especially
depression and substance abuse, are associated with 90% of all suicides. Men-
tal health disorders are a major impediment to the well-being of populations
in developed and developing countries. People with these disorders are often
subjected to social isolation, poor quality of life and increased mortality. These
disorders are the cause of staggering economic and social costs.
D. Education
Gross intake rate into last year of primary education

Sub-theme: Education level Core indicator
Brief definition: Total number of new entrants in the last grade of primary
education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the population of the
theoretical entrance age to the last grade of primary education. The indicator
is also called Primary Completion Rate.
Description: The indicator measures whether or not the entire eligible
school age population has access to school and whether or not they complete
the full primary cycle. Universal primary education is an important goal of
the international sustainable development agenda. Education is a process by
which human beings and societies reach their fullest potential. It is critical for
promoting sustainable development and improving the capacity of people to
address environment and development issues.
Net enrolment rate in primary education

Brief definition: The indictor is the ratio of the number of children of offi-
cial school age (as defined by the national education system) who are enrolled
in primary school to the total population of children of official school age.
Description: The indicator shows the proportion of children of primary
school age who are enrolled in primary school. Net enrolment refers only
to children of official primary school age, and excludes children of other age
groups enrolled in primary school age as well as children of primary school
age enrolled in other levels of education. Universal primary education is an
important goal of the international sustainable development agenda
Adult Secondary (tertiary) schooling Attainment level

Brief definition: Adult Secondary Schooling Attainment Level is defined as
the proportion of the population of working age (25-64 years) which has com-
pleted at least (upper) secondary education. Adult Tertiary Schooling Attain-
ment Level is defined as the proportion of the population of working age (25-
64 years) which has completed at least the first stage tertiary education.
Description: These indicators provide measures of the quality of the
human capital stock within the adult population of approximately working
age. For instance, those who have completed upper secondary education can
be expected either to have an adequate set of skills relevant to the labour mar-
ket or to have demonstrated the ability to acquire such skills.
Life Long Learning

Sub-theme: Education level
Brief definition: Percentage of the population aged 25 to 64 in education
or training.
Description: The indicator measures the extent to which working-age
population is engaged in learning activities. Life-long learning is essential to
sustainable development. As society shifts towards sustainable production
and consumption patterns, workers and citizens who are willing to develop
and adopt new technologies and organisation techniques as workers, as well
as new attitudes and behaviour as citizens and consumers will be needed. The
scale and quality of human resources are major determinants of both the crea-
tion of new knowledge and its dissemination.
Adult literacy rates

Sub-theme: Literacy Core indicator
Brief definition: The proportion of the adult population aged 15 years and
over that is literate.
Description: This indicator provides a measure of the stock of literate per-
sons within the adult population who are capable of using written words in
daily life and to continue to learn. It reflects the accumulated accomplish-
ment of education in spreading literacy. Any shortfall in literacy would pro-
vide indications of efforts required in the future to extend literacy to the
remaining adult illiterate population.
E. Demographics
POPULATION GROWTH RATE

Sub-theme: Population change Core indicator
Brief definition: The average annual rate of change of population size dur-
ing a specified period. It is often reported separately for urban and rural areas.
Description: The population growth rate measures how fast the size of
population is changing. If reported separately for urban and rural area, it
provides a measure of urbanization. The high growth of urban populations,
caused by rates of natural increase (excess of births over deaths) in urban
areas, migration from rural to urban areas and the transformation of rural set-
tlements into urban places, is of concern in many countries. In settings where
the conditions for sustainable agricultural and rural development are not in
place, high rates of rural population growth could negatively affect the use of
land, water, air, energy and other resources.
Total fertility rate

Sub-theme: Population change
Brief definition: The average number of children (live births) a cohort of
women would have at the end of their reproductive period if they were sub-
ject to the age-specific fertility rates of a given period. Its calculation assumes
that there is no mortality. The total fertility rate is expressed as children per
woman, and can be disaggregated into various age-specific fertility rates.
Description: Fertility is one of the variables that directly affect population
change. In many countries, lower fertility has improved the ability of families
and governments to make a better use of scarce resources, combat poverty,
protect and repair the environment, and set the conditions for sustainable
development. On the other hand, countries experiencing below-replacement
fertility levels (below 2.1 children per woman) could face rapid population
ageing and, eventually, decreasing population size. Adolescent fertility (births
to women under 20 years of age) constitutes a matter of concern for many gov-
ernments, specially in regions still experiencing relatively high fertility. Early
childbearing entails a much greater risk of maternal death, while the children
born to young mothers tend to have higher levels of morbidity and mortality.
Dependency Ratio
Sub-theme: Population change Core indicator
Brief definition: The dependency ratio relates the number of children (0-
14 years old) and older persons (65 years or over) to the working-age popula-
tion (15-64 years old).
Description: Dependency ratios indicate the potential effects of changes in
population age structures for social and economic development, in particular
regarding social support needs. A high dependency ratio indicates that the
economically active population and the overall economy may face a greater
burden in supporting the young and/or older economically dependent popu-
lations. It is also normally disaggregated into children dependency ratio and
old-age dependency ratio.
Ratio of local residents to tourists in major tourist

regions and destinations
Sub-theme: Population change
Brief definition: The number of visitors (tourists and same day visitors)
divided by the number of local residents in tourist regions and destinations. It
can be reported separately for the whole year and for peak seasons or days.
Description: The ratio can indicate total and seasonal pressure on the
environmental and social resources of host regions and populations. While
tourism represents a key source of income and employment in most tourist
receiving regions and destinations, it also exerts considerable pressure on the
environmental and socio-cultural resources of host populations, especially in
peak periods. Negative environmental and social impacts of tourism can be
prevented and mitigated with appropriate planning, management and moni-
toring of tourism activities, following integrated approaches and sustainabil-
ity principles.
F. Natural hazards
PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION LIVING IN HAZARD PRONE AREAS

Sub-theme: Vulnerability to natural hazards Core indicator
Brief definition: The percentage of national population living in areas
subject to significant risk of prominent hazards: cyclones, drought, floods,
earthquakes, volcanoes and landslides. The indicator may be calculated sepa-
rately for each relevant prominent hazard. The risk of death in a disaster caused
by natural hazards is a function of physical exposure to a hazardous event and
vulnerability to the hazard. The indicator measures the risk at sub-national
scale by using historical and other data on hazards and on vulnerability. The
sub-national risk levels are then aggregated to arrive at national values.
Description: This indicator contributes to a better understanding of the
level of vulnerability to natural hazards in a given country, thus encourag-
ing long-term, sustainable risk reduction programs to prevent disasters. High
vulnerability means higher exposure to natural catastrophes in the absence
of disaster reduction measures. Disasters caused by vulnerability to natural
hazards have a strong negative impact on the development process in both
industrialized and developing countries.
HUMAN AND ECONOMIC LOSS DUE TO DISASTERS

Sub-theme: Disaster preparedness and response
Brief definition: The number of persons deceased, missing, and/or injured
as a direct result of a disaster involving natural hazards; and the amount of
economic and infrastructure losses incurred as a direct result of the natural
disaster. The indicator may be expressed as percentage of total population (for

human loss) and of GDP (for economic loss).
Description: The indicator provides estimates of the human and economic
impact of disasters. Disasters involving natural hazards can have devastating
short and long-term impacts on the society and the economy of any country,
adversely affecting progress towards sustainable development.
G. Atmosphere
Carbon dioxide Emissions

Sub-theme: Climate change Core indicator
Brief definition: Anthropogenic emissions, less removal by sinks, of car-
bon dioxide (CO2). In addition to total emissions, sectoral CO2 emissions
can be considered. The typical sectors for which CO2 emissions/removals are
estimated are energy, industrial processes, agriculture, waste, and the sector of
land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF).
Description: This indicator measures the emissions of carbon dioxide, which
is known to be the most important, in terms of impact on global warming,
anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG). A doubling of the CO2 concentration
in the atmosphere is believed to cause an increase in the global mean tempera-
ture of 1.5 to 4.5°C, which is expected to have a very negative impact on eco-
nomic, social and environmental conditions in most countries of the world.
Emissions of Greenhouse Gases

Sub-theme: Climate change
Brief definition: Anthropogenic emissions, less removal by sinks, of the
main greenhouse gases (GHGs) carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4),
nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs),
sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). Emissions of CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs and SF6
can be converted to CO2 equivalents using the so-called global warming
potentials (GWPs) provided in assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change.
Description: This indicator measures the emissions of the six main GHGs
which have a direct impact on climate change, less the removal of the main
GHG CO2 through sequestration as a result of land-use change and forestry

activities. An increase of greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere con-
tributes to global warming, which is a major global challenge to sustainable
development. For countries that have committed to reduce or stabilize their
GHG emissions under the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, the indicator also provides information on
the fulfilment of this global commitment.
Consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances

Sub-theme: Ozone Layer Depletion Core indicator
Brief definition: This indicator shows the consumption trends for ozone
depleting substances (ODSs) controlled under the Montreal Protocol on
Substance that Deplete the Ozone Layer, thereby allowing inference of the
amounts of ODSs being eliminated as a result of the protocol.
Description: This indicator depicts the progress towards the phase out of
ODSs by the countries which have ratified the Montreal Protocol on Sub-
stances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and its Amendments. The phase-out
of ODSs, and their substitution by less harmful substances or new processes,
will lead to the recovery of the ozone layer, whose depletion has adverse effects
on human health, animals, plants, micro-organisms, marine life, materials,
biogeochemical cycles, and air quality.
Ambient concentration of air pollutants in urban areas

Sub-theme: Air quality Core indicator
Brief definition: Ambient air pollution concentrations of ozone, particu-
late matter (PM10, and PM2,5, if those are not available: SPM, black smoke),
sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, lead. Additional air pollutants are carbon
monoxide, nitrogen monoxide and volatile organic compounds including
benzene (VOCs). The priority is collection of the indicator in large cities.
Description: The indicator provides a measure of the state of the environ-
ment in terms of air quality and is an indirect measure of population exposure
to air pollution of health concern in urban areas. Improving air quality is a
significant aspect of promoting sustainable human settlements.
H. Land
Land use CHANGE

Sub-theme: Land use and status
Brief definition: The indicator measures changes of the distribution of land
uses within a country over time. Broad land use categories are: Arable land,
permanent cropland, permanent pasture, forests and woodland, built-up
areas, other. Finer classifications may be chosen, if available and appropriate.
Description: The indicator provides information on changes in the pro-
ductive or protective uses of the land resource to facilitate sustainable land
use planning and policy development. Such information is useful in identify-
ing opportunities to protect land uses or promote future allocation aimed at
providing the greatest sustainable benefits for people. Economically, changes
in land use will, for example, result in changes in possible agricultural pro-
duction and influence employment opportunities. From an environmental
point of view, unsustainable land use is an important factor in land degrada-
tion, may pose a threat to ecosystems, and lead to natural habitat loss and
landscape changes.
Land degradation
Sub-theme: Land use and status
Brief definition: The share of land which due to natural processes or
human activity is no longer able to sustain properly an economic function
and/or the original ecological function. Degraded land includes land affected
by soil erosion, deterioration of the physical, chemical and biological or eco-
nomic properties of soil and/or long-term loss of natural vegetation.
Description: The indicator measures the extent of land degradation, which
is an impediment to sustainable development in general, and to sustainable
agriculture in particular. In many developing countries it is a major cause
of poverty and further environmental damage due to overuse of national
resources. The indicator can also be seen as an overall measure of the reduc-
tion in quality of land resources.
Land area affected by desertification

Sub-theme: Desertification
Brief definition: The proportion of land in drylands that is affected by
desertification. Desertification is defined as land degradation in arid, semi-
arid, and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including cli-
matic variations and human activities.
Description: The indicator describes the extent and severity of desertifica-
tion at the national level. For dryland areas, desertification is a central prob-
lem in sustainable development. While many dryland ecosystems have gener-
ally low levels of absolute productivity, maintenance of that productivity is
critical to the present and future livelihood of many hundreds of millions of
people. Combating desertification is, therefore, a central sustainable develop-
ment goal for large areas of the world.
Arable and Permanent Crop Land Area

Sub-theme: Agriculture Core indicator
Brief Definition: Arable and permanent crop land is the total of “arable
land” and “land under permanent crops”. Arable land is the land under tem-
porary crops, temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market
and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow (for less than five years); and
land under permanent crops is the land cultivated with crops that occupy the
land for long periods and need not be replanted after each harvest.
Description: This indicator shows the amount of land available for agri-
cultural production and, inter alia, the cropland area available for food pro-
duction. In many developing countries, rising food and fibre demand and a
decline in farm sizes forces small farmers to extend cultivation to new areas,
which are fragile and not suitable for cultivation. Crop intensification, which
has contributed significantly to agricultural growth in recent years, can ease
the pressure on cultivating new lands but farm practices adopted for raising
yields can also, in some situations, damage the environment. This indicator is
of value to land planning decision making.
Fertilizer use efficiency

Sub-theme: Agriculture
Brief definition: The indicator measures the extent of fertilizer use recov-
ery in agriculture per crop unit. Data on the quantities of fertilizers used
are converted into the three basic nutrient components and aggregated. The
three components are nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P205), and potassium
(K20). Nutrient components of crops and their by-products are based on
their standardized chemical composition.
Description: This indicator shows the potential environmental pressure
from inappropriate fertilizer application. Intensive fertilizer application is
linked to nutrient losses that may lead to eutrophication of water bodies,
soil acidification, and potential contamination of water supply with nitrates.
In many countries, intensification of agricultural production is a response to
increases in food demand and in the scarcity of agricultural land. It is neces-
sary that this intensification keeps negative impacts to the resource base and
the wider environment within bounds so that the sustainability of the system
is not threatened.
Use of Agricultural Pesticides

Brief definition: Use of pesticides in metric tons of active ingredients per
unit of agricultural land area.
Description: This indicator measures the use of pesticides in agriculture,
which is linked to the intensification of agriculture. Whereas pesticides may
increase agricultural production, they pose challenges to health and environ-
ment. Pesticides tend to accumulate in the soil and in biota, and residues may
reach surface and groundwater through leaching. Humans can be exposed to
pesticides through food.
Area under organic farming

Brief definition: Ratio of total utilized agricultural area occupied by organic
farming to total utilized agricultural area. Organic farming involves holistic
production management systems, for crops and livestock, emphasizing the
use of management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs. The

indicator may be extended to cover organic forestry and aquaculture.
Description: This indicator shows the importance of organic farming.
Organic farming contributes to reducing environmental loading on soil and
water resources and pressure on biodiversity. The reduction of use of pesti-
cides, herbicides and other chemicals, combined with enhanced management
of natural resources, not only improves the health of ecosystems but also fos-
ters the health of animals and people and increases income generation and
communities’ self-reliance.
Proportion of land area covered by forests

Sub-theme: Forests Core indicator
Brief definition: The indicator measures the share of forest area in total land
area. When possible the area of primary forest should also be reported on. The
forest area is defined as “land spanning more than 0.5 hectares with trees higher
than 5 metres and a canopy cover of more than 10 percent, or trees able to reach
these thresholds in situ. The indicator may further distinguish between primary
and other forests. The primary forest area is defined as “Naturally regenerating
forest of native species, where there are no clearly visible indications of human
activities and the ecological processes are not significantly disturbed”.
Description: The indicator allows for monitoring changes in the area cov-
ered by forests over time. A continuing and fast decreasing forest area in a
country might be an alarm signal of unsustainable practices in the forestry and
agricultural sector. Forests provide many significant resources and functions
including wood products and non-wood products, recreational opportuni-
ties, habitat for wildlife, conservation of biological diversity, water and soil,
and play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. They support employment
and traditional uses. Primary forests are usually associated with high levels of
biological diversity, particularly in tropical regions. The area of primary forest
is an important indicator of the status of the forest ecosystem as a whole.
FOREST TREES DAMAGED BY DEFOLIATION

Sub-theme: Forests
Brief definition: This indicator is defined as the percentage of trees on for-
est and other wooded land in the defoliation classes moderate, severe and
dead. Defoliation is needle or leaf loss in the assessable crown as compared

with a reference tree.
Description: The purpose of the indicator is to provide information on
the state of forest defoliation. The extent of defoliation provides an indication
of the health of forests. Defoliation is influenced by a combination of climatic
factors (especially drought), soil conditions, atmospheric pollution and forest
pathogens. The indicator, thus, provides information on the impact of poli-
cies which reduce the occurrence of such influencing factors, in particular air
pollution.
Area of forest under sustainable forest management

Sub-theme: Forests
Brief definition: This indicator will measure the forest area that is under
sustainable forest management. It can be based on a variety of information,
including data on forest health, the extent to which forests fulfill targets
related to their environmental, economic and social functions and on forest
management practices.
Description: The indicator will provide information on forest management
practices. Sustainable forest management for a variety of uses is essential to
achieving sustainable development. It is a critical means to eradicate poverty,
to significantly halt deforestation and to halt degradation of natural resources
and the loss of biodiversity.
I. Oceans, seas and coasts
PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL POPULATION LIVING IN COASTAL AREAS

Sub-theme: Coastal zone Core indicator
Brief definition: Percentage of total population living within a 100 kilo-
metres from the coast and 50 meters above sea level. Other combinations of
distance-to-coast and elevation may be used as definition of coastal zones.
Another approach is to measure the population living in river delta areas,
which are important areas at the land-ocean interface.
Description: This indicator measures the concentration of population in
coastal areas, typically due to the economic benefits that accrue from access
to ocean navigation, coastal fisheries, tourism and recreation. The indica-

tor quantifies an important driver of coastal ecosystem pressure, and it also
quantifies an important component of vulnerability to sea-level rise and other
coastal hazards. Among the most important pressures are habitat conversion,
land cover change, pollutant loads, and introduction of invasive species. A
high population concentration in the low-elevation coastal zone (defined as
less than 10 meters elevation) increases a country’s vulnerability to sea-level
rise and other coastal hazards such as storm surges.
Bathing water quality

Sub-theme: Coastal zone
Brief definition: The indicator describes the changes over time in the qual-
ity of designated bathing waters (inland and marine) in terms of compliance
with standards for microbiological parameters (total coliforms and faecal
coliforms) and physicochemical parameters (mineral oils, surface-active sub-
stances and phenols).
Description: The indicator provides important information on the envi-
ronmental status of coastal waters. Violation of bathing quality standards
poses health risks for the population as well economic risks to the tourism
sector. The indicator also provides information on the effectiveness of envi-
ronmental regulation, especially with regard to wastewater and marine pollu-
tion caused by ships.
PROPORTION OF FISH STOCKS WITHIN THEIR SAFE BIOLOGICAL LIMITS

Sub-theme: Fisheries Core indicator
Brief definition: Percentage of fish stocks exploited within their level
of maximum biological productivity, i.e., stocks that are either “Underex-
ploited”, “Moderately exploited” or “Fully exploited” according to formal
stock assessments based on a FAO procedure. Stocks that are “Overex-
ploited”, “Depleted” and “Recovering” are outside their maximum biological
productivity.
Description: The indicator provides information on the state of exploi-
tation of fishery resources at the global, regional and national levels. It
measures the level of sustainable production from capture fisheries, an
important element of food security. It is based on formal stock assessments,
derived from national and, for shared fish stocks, regional catch and effort
statistics.
Proportion of marine area protected

Sub-theme: Marine environment Core indicator
Brief definition: The indicator is defined as the share of national marine
area (territorial water plus exclusive economic zones) that has been reserved
by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environ-
ment. The indicator may be disaggregated by management category of the
protected areas. It could be calculated separately for different marine ecologi-
cal regions, if appropriate classification systems are available.
Description: The indicator represents the extent to which marine areas
important for conserving biodiversity, cultural heritage, scientific research
(including baseline monitoring), recreation, natural resource maintenance,
and other values, are protected from incompatible uses. Protected marine
areas are essential for maintaining marine ecosystem diversity, in conjunction
with management of human impacts on the environment.
Marine Trophic Index

Sub-theme: Marine environment
Brief definition: The marine trophic index measures the change in mean
trophic level of fisheries landings by region and globally. Trophic level is
defined as the position of an organism in the food chain, and ranges from a
value of 1 for primary producers up to a level of 5 for marine mammals and
humans.
Description: In addition to being an indicator of the sustainability of fish-
eries, the marine trophic index provides a measure of ecosystem integrity.
Declining trophic levels result in shortened food chains, leaving ecosystems
less able to cope with natural or human-induced change. The long term sus-
tainability of fisheries is, in turn, directly linked to human livelihoods and
well-being. Excessive fishing is the most widespread and dominant human
impact on ocean ecosystems and is a major impact on marine biodiversity.
The lowered biomasses and fragmented habitats resulting from the impacts
of fishing are predicted to lead to local extinctions especially among large,
long-lived, slow growing species.
Area of coral reef ecosystems and percentage live cover

Sub-theme: Marine environment
Brief definition: The indicator measures trends in the extant area of coral
reefs (a ‘key ecosystem’ for many countries), and the percentage live cover of
those reefs. Key ecosystems are those ecosystems for which it is most impor-
tant to measure changes in extent, or those ecosystems for which it is possible
to measure changes in extent.
Description: The indicator illustrates the effectiveness of national meas-
ures designed to conserve marine biological diversity and ensure its use is
sustainable. In many countries, coral reefs contain rare or locally endemic or
threatened species, are of particularly high species richness, represent rare or
unusual habitat, are severely reduced in area relative to their potential original
extent, are under a high degree of threat, and/or are of high actual or potential
economic importance.
J. Freshwater
Proportion of total water resources used

Sub-theme: Water quantity Core indicator
Brief definition: Total annual volume of groundwater and surface water
withdrawn from its sources for human use (in the agricultural, domestic and
industrial sectors), expressed as a percentage of the total volume of water
available annually through the hydrological cycle (total renewable water
resources). The terms water resources and water use are understood as fresh-
water resources and freshwater use.
Description: The indicator shows the degree to which total renewable
water resources are being exploited to meet the country’s water demands and
is thus a measure of water scarcity. Scarce water could have negative effects on
sustainability constraining economic and regional development, and leading
to loss of biodiversity. It is an important measure of a country’s vulnerability
to water shortages.
Water use intensity by economic activity

Sub-theme: Water quantity Core indicator
Brief definition: The indicator is defined as cubic metres of water used
per unit of value added (in US $) by economic activity. Water used by an
economic activity consists of the sum of (i) water directly abstracted from the
environment either permanently or temporarily for own use and (ii) water
received from other industries including reused water. Value added (gross)
by economic activity is defined as in the National Accounts as the value of
output less the value of intermediate consumption.
Description: This indicator measures the intensity of water use in terms
of volumes of water per unit of value added. It is an indicator of pressure of
the economy on the water resources. Over time, it shows whether a coun-
try has decoupled decouple water use from economic growth. The indicator
also provides information on progress in implementation of integrated water
resources management plans.
PRESENCE OF FAECAL COLIFORMS IN FRESHWATER

Sub-theme: Water qualitity Core indicator
Brief definition: The proportion of freshwater resources destined for pota-
ble supply containing concentrations of faecal coliforms which exceed the
levels recommended in the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines
for Drinking-water Quality.
Description: The indicator assesses the microbial quality of water available
to communities for basic needs. It identifies communities where contami-
nation of water with human and animal excreta at source or in the supply
poses a threat to health. Diarrhoeal diseases, largely the consequence of faecal
contamination of drinking-water supplies, are the major cause for morbidity
and mortality in many developing countries, especially among children. Fre-
quent diarrhoeal episodes, even without fatal consequences, disrupt children’s
development and education, which, in the longer term, can have serious con-
sequences for sustainable development.
Biological oxygen demand (BOD) IN WATER BODIES

Sub-theme: Water quality
Brief definition: BOD measures the amount of oxygen required or con-
sumed for the microbiological decomposition (oxidation) of organic material
in water.
Description: The purpose of this indicator is to assess the quality of water
available to consumers in localities or communities for basic and commercial
needs. It is also one of a group of indicators of ecosystem health. The pres-
ence of high BOD may indicate faecal contamination or increases in particu-
late and dissolved organic carbon from non-human and animal sources that
can restrict water use and development, necessitate expensive treatment and
impair ecosystem health. Human ill health due to water quality problems
can reduce work capability and affect children’s growth and education. High
levels of oxygen consumption pose a threat to a variety of aquatic organisms,
including fish.
Wastewater treatment
Sub-theme: Water quality
Brief definition: Proportion of wastewater that is treated, in order to
reduce pollutants before being discharged to the environment, by level of
treatment (primary, secondary or tertiary).
Description: This indicator assesses the potential level of pollution from
domestic and industrial/commercial point sources entering the aquatic
environment, and monitors progress towards reducing this potential within
the framework of integrated water resources management. It helps to iden-
tify communities where wastewater treatment action is required to protect
the ecosystem. Untreated or insufficiently treated wastewater can result in
increased nutrient levels, high levels of organic matter and hazardous sub-
stances, posing threats to aquatic ecosystems and human health.
K. Biodiversity
Proportion of terrestrial area protected, total and by

ecological region
Sub-theme: Ecosystem Core indicator
Brief definition: The indicator is defined as the share of terrestrial area that
has been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the
enclosed environment. It can be calculated separately for different terrestrial
ecological regions. The indicator may also be disaggregated by management
category of the protected areas.
Description: The indicator represents the extent to which areas important
for conserving biodiversity, cultural heritage, scientific research (including
baseline monitoring), recreation, natural resource maintenance, and other
values, are protected from incompatible uses. It shows how much of each
major ecosystem is dedicated to maintaining its diversity and integrity. Pro-
tected areas are essential for maintaining ecosystem diversity in countries and
ecological regions, in conjunction with management of human impacts on
the environment.
Managent effectiveness of protected areas

Sub-theme: Ecosystem
Brief definition: This indicator will measure the effectiveness with which
protected areas are being managed based on information about the context,
planning and design, resource inputs, management processes, delivery of
goods and services, and conservation outcomes of protected areas.
Description: Management effectiveness of protected areas is an impor-
tant indicator of how well protected areas are conserving biodiversity. This
is critical as most nations use protected areas as a cornerstone of biodiversity
conservation. However, to determine whether this is a successful strategy it
is necessary to know not only about the area and systems they cover, but also
whether these are effectively managed.
AREA OF SELECTED KEY ECOSYSTEMS

Brief definition: This indicator measures the extant area of identified key
ecosystems. Ecosystem refers to the plants, animals, micro-organisms and
physical environment of any given place, and the complex relationships link-
ing them into a functional system. Key ecosystems can be defined as either
those ecosystems for which it is most important to measure changes in extent,
or those ecosystems for which it is possible for measure changes in extent.
Description: The indicator assesses the relative effectiveness of measures for
conserving biodiversity at ecosystem level. It is a tool to estimate the need for
specific conservation measures to maintain the biological diversity in a coun-
try or region. Key ecosystem require attention and specific policy measures as
they contain rare or locally endemic or threatened species, are of particularly
high species richness, represent rare or unusual habitat, are severely reduced
in area relative to their potential original extent, are under a high degree of
threat, and/or are of high actual or potential economic importance.
Fragmentation of habitat
Brief definition: This indicator measures the fragmentation of identified
key habitats. For forests and other terrestrial habitat types the patch size dis-
tribution of habitats may be derived from vegetation information systems.
For river fragmentation, defined as the interruption of a river’s natural flow by
dams, inter-basin transfers or water withdrawal, fragmentation can be assessed
based on number, placement and amount of water stored behind dams.
Description: The fragmentation of habitats caused by human activities has
significant, largely negative implications for their native biodiversity, through
the effects of area reduction, edge exposure and isolation, as well as through
interruption of ecosystem processes and associated ecosystem degradation.
The indicator has the potential to illustrate the effectiveness of national meas-
ures designed to conserve biological diversity.
CHange in threat status of species

Sub-theme: Species Core indicator
Brief definition: This indicator is an index based on the number of spe-
cies in each category of the IUCN Red List (Least Concern, Near Threat-
ened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild,
Extinct), and the number of species changing categories between assessments
as a result of genuine improvement or deterioration in status. The indicator
is an adaptation of the IUCN Red List Index, the best known and most
accepted methodology for assessing trends in the status of threatened species
at a global level.
Description: The indicator allows monitoring the extinction risk of species
over time. Extinct and endangered species constitute a major loss of biodiver-
sity, which plays a critical role in overall sustainable development. The indi-
cator also illustrates the effectiveness of local, national, regional and global
measures to protect endangered species.
Abundance of key species

Sub-theme: Species
Brief definition: This indicator uses estimates of population trends in
selected species to represent changes in biodiversity, and the relative effective-
ness of measures to maintain it. The indicator can be applied to individual
species groups (e.g. birds, butterflies), or can be aggregated to incorporate a
number of taxa (e.g. in a fashion similar to the Living Planet Index), accord-
ing to data availability and indicator applicability.
Description: The indicator allows monitoring the abundance of species
over time. The indicator illustrates the effectiveness of national measures
designed to limit the loss in biodiversity.
Abundance of invasive alien species

Sub-theme: Species
Brief definition: The indicator measures the number of invasive alien spe-
cies in a given country or region. An invasive alien species is a species intro-
duced outside its normal distribution whose establishment and spread modi-
fies ecosystems, habitats, or species.
Description: The indicator measures an important threat to biodiversity.

Invasive alien species (IAS) may threaten native species as direct predators or
competitors, as vectors of disease, by modifying the habitat, or altering native
species dynamics. IAS have been a major cause of extinctions, especially on
islands and in freshwater habitats. Species introductions caused by humans
may be intentional (e.g. species released for hunting or biological control),
but more commonly are unintentional (e.g. introduced with traded goods
such as lumber, in the ballast water of ships, or for the pet trade).
L. Economic development

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT PER CAPITA
Sub-theme: Macroeconomic performance Core indicator
Brief definition: Levels of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita are
obtained by dividing annual or period GDP at current market prices by
population. A variation of the indicator could be the growth of real GDP
per capita which is derived by computing the annual or period growth rate
of GDP in constant basic producers’ or purchasers’ prices divided by corre-
sponding population. GDP is the sum of value-added of all production units
including all taxes and subsidies on products which are not included in the
valuation of output.
Description: The indicator is a basic economic growth indicator and meas-
ures the level and extent of total economic output. It reflects changes in total
production of goods and services. It is a powerful summary indicator of eco-
nomic development, even though it does not account for social and environ-
mental cost of production and consumption.
INVESTMENT SHARE IN GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

Sub-theme: Macroeconomic performance Core indicator
Brief definition: This indicator refers to the share of investment in total
production. It is obtained by calculating gross capital formation as percentage
of gross domestic product. Gross capital formation (investment) is defined
as the total value of gross fixed capital formation plus changes in inventories
and acquisitions less disposal of valuables. Gross fixed capital formation is the
total value of produced assets used in the production process for more than
one year.
Description: The investment ratio gives an indication of the relative impor-

tance of investment as opposed to, for example, consumption. Acquisitions
of capital goods provide important information on future economic perform-
ance of a society by widening and deepening the capital stock. The indicator
measures, thus, an important element of the sustainable development proc-
ess, especially in developing countries with low amounts productive capital.
Gross savings
Sub-theme: Macroeconomic performance
Brief definition: The indicator is defined in national accounts as gross
disposable income (i.e. gross national income plus the balance of current
transfers with the rest of the world). If available, the alternative net savings,
i.e. gross savings less capital depreciation, may provide superior information.
Both gross and net savings may be expressed as rates, i.e. as gross (net) savings
divided by gross (net) disposable income.
Description: The indicator measures the part of income available for
investment or, possibly, capital transfers to the rest of the world. It provides
important information on domestic means of implementation for sustain-
able development. If calculated as net savings, it is an important indicator for
future net wealth.
Adjusted net savings as percentage of GNI

Brief definition: Adjusted net savings is defined as net savings (i.e. gross
national income less capital depreciation plus the balance of current transfers
with the rest of the world), plus expenditures for education, less depletion of
a variety of natural resources (oil, minerals, forests) and less pollution dam-
age (damage from urban air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions). The
indicator is then computed by dividing adjusted net savings by gross national
income.
Description: The indicator modifies traditional net savings in order to
derive an aggregate savings concept more commensurate to sustainable devel-
opment. A negative adjusted net savings rate can be interpreted as a reduction
in total wealth of the economy, thus implying unsustainability. Education
expenditures are added as they can be seen as investments in human capital.
Depletion of natural resource is deducted to reflect the decline in asset values

associated with their extraction and harvest. Pollution damages are deducted
as they reduce human and real capital.
INflation rate
Brief definition: The indicator is defined as the cost of living as measured
by the annual percentage increase of the consumer price index. Consumer
price indices are based on a representative basket of goods and services pur-
chased by consumers in an economy. Composition and relative weights of the
basket are reviewed periodically.
Description: The indicator measures inflation, which if too high hampers
economic growth. High and unanticipated inflation increases uncertainty
and leads to inter-and intra-temporal misallocation of resources as long as
prices are not fully flexible. Inflation, especially if unanticipated, has often
unwanted distributional effects, as it reduces real income of fixed income
earners and shifts wealth away from creditors to debtors. Very high and accel-
erating inflation rates may be caused by excessive financing of public debts
through seignorage and can be sign of unsustainable public finances.
Debt to Gross National income ratio

Sub-theme: Sustainable public finance Core indicator
Brief definition: The indicator can be defined as the total amount of out-
standing debt issued by the general government divided by gross national
income. Total debt consists of external debt (debt held by non-residents) and
internal debt (held by residents). For countries where external debt is a major
concern, the indicator can alternatively or additionally be defined as total
external debt (private and public) divided by GNI.
Description: With regard to public debt, the indicator is a standard meas-
ure of public finance. Debt constitutes a burden for future generations as it
reduces the amount available for their consumption and investments. High
and increasing debt ratios can be seen as an indication of unsustainable pub-
lic finances. With regard to external debt, this is one of the indicators that
measures the burden of servicing the external debt of a country in relation to
its total income (GNI). While external borrowing is a method of supplement-
ing savings and financing the investment gap in a country, an unsustainable

external debt burden will choke development.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Sub-theme: Employment Core indicator
Brief definition: The employment-to-population ratio is defined as the
proportion of a country’s working-age population that is employed. It is typi-
cally disaggregated by sex and by age group.
Description: The employment-to-population ratio provides information
on the ability of an economy to create employment. Employment, as opposed
to unemployment, is viewed as the desired portion of the economically active
population (labour force). Employment-to-population ratios are of particular
interest when broken down by sex, as they can provide information on gender
differences in labour market activity in a given country. For policy purposes,
employment-to-population ratios of youth and old are particular relevant.
Vulnerable EMPLOYMENT
Sub-theme: Employment
Brief definition: The indicator is defined as the share of own-account work-
ers and contributing family members in total employed people. The indicator
is based on the broader indicator ‘status in employment’ which distinguishes
between three categories of the total employed. These are: age and sala-
ried workers (also known as employees); self-employed workers (employers,
own-account workers and members of producers’ cooperatives); contributing
family workers (also known as unpaid family workers). The indicator may be
broken down by sex.
Description: This indicator provides information how many persons
are vulnerable to economic risk because of weak institutional employment
arrangements. Own-account workers and contributing family members are
regarded as especially vulnerable as they have by definition no formal work
arrangements and are therefore more likely to have a low degree of job security
and to lack access to social security. The indicator provides information on
the informalization of labor markets, which may be associated with increas-
ing and persistent poverty. High values of the indicator may also indicate a
large agricultural sector in terms of employment, often associated with low
labour productivity and economic growth rates.
LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY and unit labour cost

Brief definition: Labour productivity is defined as output (in constant
prices) per unit of labour. The indicator can be reported for the total economy
as well as for different sectors. Both hours worked and number of persons
employed can be used as unit of labour. Unit labour cost is defined as labour
compensation per unit of gross value added produced. Total labour compen-
sation includes gross wages and salaries of employees and other costs of labour
that are paid by employers, including employers’ contributions to social secu-
rity and pension schemes.
Description: Positive changes in labour productivity measure the part of
economic growth due to more effective work by those who are employed.
Driving forces behind labour productivity include the accumulation of
machinery and equipment, improvements in organization as well as physi-
cal and institutional infrastructures, improved health and skills of workers
(“human capital”) and the generation of new technologies. Unit labor cost
represents a direct link between productivity and the cost of labour used in
generating output. A rise in a country’s unit labour cost represents an increased
reward for labour’s contribution to output. However, a rise in labour cost that
is higher than the rise in labour productivity, especially in tradable goods
producing sectors, may indicate a decrease in international competitiveness,
if other costs are not adjusted in compensation.
Share of women in wage employment in the

non-agricultural sector
Brief definition: The indicator is the share of female workers in wage
employment in the non-agricultural sector expressed as a percentage of total
wage employment in that same sector. The non-agricultural sector includes
industry and services.
Description: The indicator shows the extent to which women have
access to paid employment, which will affect their integration into the
monetary economy. It also indicates the degree to which labour markets
are open to women in industry and services sectors which affects not only
equal employment opportunities for women but also economic efficiency
through flexibility of the labour market and the economy’s capacity to

adapt to changes over time. Promoting gender equality and the empower-
ment of women thus eliminating all forms of gender-based discrimination
in labour markets is essential to defeating poverty and fostering sustainable
development.
Number of internet Users per population

Sub-theme: Information and communication technologies Core indicator
Brief definition: The indicator is computed by first dividing the number
of Internet users by total population, and then multiplying by 100. Inter-
net users are those who use the Internet from any location. The Internet is
defined as a world-wide public computer network that provides access to
a number of communication services including the World Wide Web and
carries email, news, entertainment and data files. Internet access may be via
a computer, Internet-enabled mobile phone, digital TV, games machine etc.
Location of use can refer to any location, including work.
Description: The number of Internet users is a measure of Internet access and
use. As an information distribution system, the Internet and its usage provide
opportunities for bringing education and information within the reach of all. It
can significantly shorten time lags as well as open up a new range of informa-
tion resources. It also provides significant, new economic opportunities as well
as possibilities for more environment-friendly options for the marketplace.
Fixed telephone lines per 100 population

Sub-theme: Information and communication technologies
Brief definition: The indicator is derived by dividing the number of fixed
telephone lines by total population and multiplying by 100.
Description: This indicator is one of the broadest and most common
measurements of the degree of telecommunication development in a coun-
try. Telecommunication is critical to support sustainable development and is
closely linked to social, economic, and institutional development. It provides
those in rural and remote areas with closer contact to the outside world. It
is also a critical factor for many economic activities and improves exchange
of information among citizens. Modern communications are considered to
be relatively benign to the environment, as they are potential substitutes for
transport and induce relatively low levels of environmental pollution. The

indicator is also used as a general infrastructure indicator.
Mobile cellular telephone subscribers per 100 population

Sub-theme: Information and communication technologies
Brief definition: The indicator is derived by dividing the number of mobile
cellular subscribers by total population and multiplying by 100.
Description: This indicator is one of the broadest and most common
measurements of the degree of telecommunication development in a coun-
try. Telecommunication is critical to support sustainable development and is
closely linked to social, economic, and institutional development. In many
developing countries, mobile telephony has overtaken fixed telephony in its
importance as means of communication.
Gross domestic EXPENDITURE ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

AS A PERCENT OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
Sub-theme: Research and development
Brief definition: Gross domestic expenditure on scientific research and
experimental development (R&D) expressed as a percentage of Gross Domes-
tic Product (GDP). Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) activities
are defined as the total intramural expenditure on research and development
performed on the national territory during a given period. This includes both
current costs and capital expenditures.
Description: This ratio provides an indication of the level of financial
resources devoted to R&D in terms of their share of the GDP. R&D is essen-
tial for expanding the knowledge basis and developing new and improved
products in the economy. It is a critical component of future economic growth.
Moreover, R&D on issues relevant for sustainable development increases the
scientific basis for informed decision-making in this area.
Tourism contribution to GDP

Sub-theme: Tourism Core indicator
Brief definition: The indicator is defined as the sum of the value added
(at basic prices) generated by all industries in response to internal tourism
consumption and the amount of net taxes on products and imports included
within the value of this expenditure. It is based on tourism satellite account
(TSA), a satellite account to standard national accounts that serves as the
international standard on tourism statistics.
Description: GDP generated by visitor consumption is the most com-
prehensive aggregate illustrating the economic relevance of tourism. There
is increasing consensus on the importance of tourism as a strategic sector in
the national economy insofar as it provides an essential contribution to the
economic well-being of the resident population, contributes to the economic
objectives of governments and shows its possible role as a relevant player in
moving towards a more innovative economy.
M. Global economic partnership
Current Account Deficit as percentage of GDP

Sub-theme: Trade Core indicator
Brief definition: The indicator is the balance of the current account
divided by gross domestic product. The current account is part of the balance
of payments and contains financial transactions of economic value between
residents and non-residents of an economy. In the 5th edition of the balance of
payment manual, the current account components are the balance of trade in
goods and services, balance of income (compensation of employees working
abroad and income from foreign investments) and current transfers (workers
remittances and government transfers).
Description: Current account balance is part of the measure of an econo-
my’s savings. Along with net capital transfers and acquisition/disposal of non-
produced, non-financial assets, the current account balance represents the net
foreign investment or net lending/borrowing position of a country vis-à-vis
the rest of the world. Persistent current account deficits or surpluses indi-
cate a macroeconomic instability that is not conducive to sustained economic
growth and, therefore, to sustained means of implementation of sustainable
development goals. A current account deficit has to be financed through an
increase in financial and non-financial liabilities vis-à-vis the rest of the world
or a decrease in reserve assets. Repayment of these liabilities decreases the
resources future generations have available for consumption and investment.
Share of imports from developing countries and LDCs

Sub-theme: Trade
Brief definition: The indicator is defined as the share of merchandise
imports from least-developed countries (LDCs) and from other developing
countries in total imports into the reporting countries in a given year.
Description: Trade can play a major role in achieving sustainable develop-
ment. Exports from developing countries and from LDCs constitute a major
source of external financing for sustainable development of those countries.
For developed country importers, the indicator is one measure of the relative
importance of North-South trade, whereas for developing country importers
it is a measure of South-South trade. The indicator also provides information
on the implementation of international commitments to increase the trade
opportunities of developing countries.
Average tariff barriers imposed on exports from

developing countries and LDCs
Sub-theme: Trade
Brief definition: The indicator can be defined as the simple average tariff
imposed by country on exports from least-developed countries (LDCs) and
from other developing countries to the country. The indicator can be dis-
aggregated by product groups. The simple average tariff is the unweighted
average of the effectively applied rates at the most detailed tariff line level.
Trade-weighted averages may also be used to compute this indicator.
Description: Trade can play a major role in achieving sustainable devel-
opment. Tariff barriers imposed on exports from developing countries and
LDCs may hinder the sustainable development in those countries. Especially
if compared with tariffs imposed on exports from developed countries, the
indicator provides information on whether the tariff structure of a country
is commensurate with fair trade principles. As the basket of exported goods
for many developing countries and especially LDCs is relatively small, the
indicator may be further broken down into product groups.
NET OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE GIVEN OR RECEIVED AS

PERCENTAGE OF GROSS NATIONAL INCOME
Sub-theme: External financing Core indicator
Brief definition: This indicator is defined as the total ODA given or
received as a share of GNI of the source or recipient country, respectively,
net of repayment of principal. When ODA flows by donor countries are
measured, ODA comprises bilateral disbursements of concessional funds to
developing countries and multilateral institutions. When ODA receipts by
developing countries are measured, ODA comprises disbursement of conces-
sional finance from both bilateral and multilateral sources. ODA consists of
grants and concessional loans.
Description: The indicator is a measure of the size of flows that are both
concessional, and aimed mainly at promoting development and welfare of
developing countries. ODA remains an important source of external means
of implementation for sustainable development in many developing coun-
tries. For donor countries, the indicator provides information on the adher-
ence to the internationally agreed target of ODA to be at least 0.7 % of
GNI. For developing countries, the indicator provides information on the
contribution of foreign countries to sustainable development as well as on
their dependency on foreign aid.
foreign direct investment (FDI) NET inflows and NET

outflows as percentage of GDP
Sub-theme: External financing
Brief definition: This indicator is defined as the share of foreign direct
investment (FDI) net inflows and of FDI net outflows in GDP. FDI is invest-
ment made to acquire a lasting interest in or effective control over an enter-
prise operating outside of the economy of the investor. FDI net inflows and
net outflows include reinvested earnings and intra-company loans, and are
net of repatriation of capital and repayment of loans.
Description: The indicator shows the provision of external financing
resources in the form of direct investments at home from foreign investors
and abroad from domestic investors. For many developing countries, FDI
inflows are a major and relatively stable source of external financing and
thereby provide important means of implementation of sustainable develop-
ment goals. In many cases, FDI also contributes to the transfer of technol-
ogy and management skills. Conversely, FDI outflows have the potential to
improve sustainable development in receiving countries. Sustained increases
in FDI inflows are often a sign of an improved general investment climate.
Remittances as percentage of GNI

Sub-theme: External financing
Brief definition: The indicator is defined as total current private transfers
received by residents in a country plus compensation of employees earned
by nonresident workers and migrants’ transfers divided by Gross National
Income (GNI).
Description: This indicator shows the extent of financial benefit for a
country from temporary and permanent movements of its residents who
are able to work abroad. For many countries, remittances are a major and
stable source of external financing and thereby provide important means of
implementation of sustainable development goals. As a result of increased
globalization the importance of remittances has been rapidly increasing in
the last decade.
N. Consumption and production patterns
MATERIAL INTENSITY OF THE ECONOMY

Sub-theme: Material consumption Core indicator
Brief definition: The indicator is defined as the ratio of Domestic Material
Consumption (DMC) to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at constant prices.
DMC is defined as the total amount of materials (measured by weight)
directly used in the economy (used domestic extraction plus imports), minus
the materials that are exported.
Description: The indicator provides a basis for policies to decouple the
growth of the economy from the use of natural resources in order to reduce
environment degradation resulting from primary production, material
processing, manufacturing and waste disposal. Reducing the material inten-
sity of production and consumption of goods and services is essential to envi-
ronmental protection and resource conservation. Reductions in intensity of
material use can be achieved by more efficient use of natural resources in

production and consumption, by recycling used and waste material, and by
shifts in consumption patterns to less material intensive goods and services.
DOMESTIC MATERIAL CONSUMPTION

Sub-theme: Material consumption
Brief Definition: Domestic Material Consumption (DMC) is defined as
the weight of the total amount of materials directly used in the economy (used
domestic extraction plus imports), minus the materials that are exported.
Materials may be broken down by type of material (minerals, biomass, fossil
fuels).
Description: DMC is a useful indicator, as it provides an assessment of
the absolute level of use of resources. Primary production of raw materials,
processing of the materials into products, and ultimate disposal of the waste
material has major environmental impacts. The indicator provides a basis for
policies to increase the efficient use of raw materials in order to conserve natu-
ral resources and reduce environment degradation resulting from primary
extraction, material processing, manufacturing and waste disposal.
Annual energy consumption, total and by main user

category
Sub-theme: Energy Core indicator
Brief definition: The indicator is defined as the total energy consumption
(total primary energy supply or total final consumption) in the economy (in
tonnes of oil equivalents). It can be broken down by main user category.
Description: This indicator measures the level of energy use and reflects
the energy-use patterns in the economy overall and in different sectors.
Energy is a key factor in economic development and in providing vital
services that improve quality of life. Although energy is a key requirement
for economic progress, its production, use and by-products have resulted
in major pressures on the environment, both by depleting resources and by
creating pollution.
Share of renewable energy sources in total energy USE

Sub-theme: Energy
Brief definition: The share of renewable sources in total primary energy
supply or total energy consumption. Renewable energy sources are divided
into non-combustible (geothermal, hydro, solar, wind, tide and wave) and
combustible renewables and waste (biomass, animal products, municipal
waste and industrial waste). Non-renewables are fossil fuels (coal, crude oil,
petroleum products, gas) and nuclear.
Description: The promotion of energy, and in particular of electricity from
renewable sources of energy, is a high priority of sustainable development
for several reasons. Energy from renewables can increase energy security and
lead to diversification of energy supply. It reduces environmental degradation
caused by non-renewable energy sources, contributes to the mitigation of
climate change and reduces the depletion of natural resources.
Intensity of energy use, total and by economic activity

Sub-theme: Energy
Brief definition: The indicator is defined as energy use (of the economy
in total and of the main sectors) divided by gross domestic product (or value
added in case of a sector).
Description: Declining trends in overall energy use relative to GDP (or
value added) indicate that the economy is able to improve its energy effi-
ciency and, hence, to decouple economic growth from energy consumption.
Improving energy efficiency has beneficial effects on energy security and
reduces pressures from economic activities on the environment.
GENERATION OF HAZARDOUS WASTES

Sub-theme: Waste generation and management Core indicator
Brief definition: The total amount of hazardous wastes generated per year
through industrial or other waste generating activities, according to the defi-
nition of hazardous waste as referred to in the Basel Convention and other
related conventions.
Description: The indicator provides a measure of the extent and type of
industrialization in a country and the nature of industrial activities including
technologies and processes generating hazardous wastes. The generation of

hazardous wastes has a direct impact on health and the environment. Nor-
mally, long-term exposure is required before harmful effects are seen. Reduced
generation of hazardous wastes may indicate reduced industrial activities in
a country, introduction of cleaner production in the industrial processes,
changing patterns in consumers’ habits, or changes in national hazardous
waste legislation.
GENERATION OF WASTE
Sub-theme: Waste generation and management
Brief definition: The amount of all waste, both hazardous and non-
hazardous, generated by selected main groups of industries or sectors of the
economy, expressed per capita and per unit of value added (in US $) by eco-
nomic activity (at constant prices).
Description: The main purpose is to show the trend in the generation of
waste produced by different human activities. Waste represents a consider-
able loss of resources both in the form of materials and energy. The treat-
ment and disposal of the generated waste may cause environmental pollution
and expose humans to harmful substances and bacteria, and therefore impact
on human health. Waste generated per unit of value-added shows if there is
decoupling of waste generation from economic growth.
WASTE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL

Brief definition: Percentage of waste which is recycled; composted; incin-
erated; and landfilled on a controlled site.
Description: The indicator measures the proportion of waste generated
which is recycled, composted, incinerated, or landfilled on a controlled site.
It gives an indication of the environmental impact of waste management in
the country. The proper treatment and disposal of waste is important from
an environmental and social viewpoint but can be an economic burden on
industries, municipalities and households. The amount of waste recycled and
composted reduces the demand for raw materials, leading to a reduction in
resource extraction. There may also be a benefit of increased income genera-
tion for the urban poor through recycling schemes.
MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE

Brief definition: Progress in the management of radioactive waste is meas-
ured against key milestones related to both the processing of waste into forms
suitable for either safe storage or for placement into a designated endpoint
(the “form factor”) and to the placement of waste into an endpoint facility
(“endpoint factor”). Radioactive waste from various sources, such as nuclear
power generation and other nuclear fuel cycle related activities, radioisotope
production and use for applications in medicine, agriculture, industry and
research, is considered.
Description: The purpose of the indicator is to represent the progress in
managing the various radioactive wastes that arise from the nuclear fuel cycle
and/or from nuclear applications. It provides a measure of both the current
status of radioactive waste management at any time and the progress made
over time towards the overall sustainability of radioactive waste management.
Radioactive waste, if not properly managed, can have a direct impact on
health and the environment through exposure to ionizing radiation.
Modal split of PASSENGER TRANSPORT

Sub-theme: Transport Core indicator
Brief definition: The indicator measures the share of each mode (passenger
cars, buses and coaches, and trains) in total inland passenger transport, meas-
ured in passenger-km.
Description: The indicator provides information on the relative impor-
tance of different modes for passenger transport. The use of cars for passenger
transportation is generally less energy efficient and has greater environmental
and social impacts, such as pollution, global warming as well as a higher acci-
dent rate, than mass transit.
Modal split of FREIGHT TRANSPORT

Sub-theme: Transport
Brief definition: The indicator measures the share of each mode (road,
rail and inland waterways) in total inland freight transport, measured in
tonne-km.
Description: The indicator provides information on the relative impor-

tance of different modes for freight transport. Road transport is less energy-
efficient and produces more emissions per tonne-kilometer than either
rail or inland waterways transport. Therefore, the use of road for freight
transport has greater environmental and social impacts, such as pollution,
global warming, as well as a higher accident rate, than either rail or inland
waterways transport.
Energy intensity of transport

Sub-theme: Transport
Brief definition: The indicator is defined as fuel used per unit of freight-
kilometer (km) hauled and per unit of passenger-km traveled by mode.
Description: The indicator measures how much energy is used for moving
both goods and people. Transport serves economic and social development
through the distribution of goods and services and through personal mobil-
ity. At the same time, transport is a major user of energy, mostly in the form
of oil products, which makes transport the most important driver behind
growth in global oil demand. Energy use for transport therefore contributes
to the depletion of natural resources, to air pollution and to climate change.
Reducing energy intensity in transport can reduce the environmental impacts
of this sector while maintaining its economic and social benefits.
91
Appendix 1. Agenda 21 — Table of Contents
Chapter Paragraphs
1. Preamble 1.1–1.6
SECTION I. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DIMENSIONS
2. International cooperation to accelerate sustainable develop- 2.1–2.43

ment in developing countries and related domestic policies
3. Combating poverty 3.1–3.12
4. Changing consumption patterns 4.1–4.27
5. Demographic dynamics and sustainability 5.1–5.66
6. Protecting and promoting human health conditions 6.1–6.46
7. Promoting sustainable human settlement development 7.1–7.80
8. Integrating environment and development in decision-making 8.1–8.54
SECTION II.
CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPMENT
9. Protection of the atmosphere 9.1–9.35
10. Integrated approach to the planning and management 10.1–10.18

of land resources
11. Combating deforestation 11.1–11.40
12. Managing fragile ecosystems: combating desertification 12.1–12.63

and drought
13. Managing fragile ecosystems: sustainable mountain 13.1–13.24

evelopment
d
14. Promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development 14.1–14.104
15. Conservation of biological diversity 15.1–15.11
16. Environmentally sound management of biotechnology 16.1–16.46
17. Protection of the oceans, all kinds of seas, including enclosed 17.1–17.136
and semi-enclosed seas, and coastal areas and the protection,
rational use and development of their living resources
18. Protection of the quality and supply of freshwater resources: 18.1–18.90

application of integrated approaches to the development,
management and use of water resources
19. E nvironmentally sound management of toxic chemicals, 19.1–19.76

including prevention of illegal international traffic in toxic
and dangerous products
20. Environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, 20.1–20.46

including prevention of illegal international traffic in
hazardous wastes
21. Environmentally sound management of solid wastes and 21.1–21.49

s ewage-related issues
22. Safe and environmentally sound management of radioactive 22.1–22.9

wastes
SECTION III. STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF MAJOR GROUPS
23. Preamble 23.1–23.4
24. Global action for women towards sustainable and equitable 24.1–24.12
development
25. Children and youth in sustainable development 25.1–25.17
26. Recognizing and strengthening the role of indigenous people 26.1–26.9

and their communities
27. Strengthening the role of non-governmental organizations: 27.1–27.13

partners for sustainable development
28. Local authorities’ initiatives in support of Agenda 21 28.1–28.7
29. Strengthening the role of workers and their trade unions 29.1–29.14
30. Strengthening the role of business and industry 30.1–30.30
31. Scientific and technological community 31.1–31.12
32. Strengthening the role of farmers 32.1–32.14
SECTION IV. MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION
33. Financial resources and mechanisms 33.1–33.21
34. Transfer of environmentally sound technology, cooperation 34.1–34.29

and capacity-building
35. Science for sustainable development 35.1–35.25
36. Promoting education, public awareness and training 36.1–36.27
37. National mechanisms and international cooperation for 37.1–37.13

c apacity-building in developing countries
38. International institutional arrangements 38.1–38.45
39. International legal instruments and mechanisms 39.1–39.10
40. Information for decision-making 40.1–40.30

93
Appendix 2. Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
Table of Contents
Chapter Title Paragraphs
I. Introduction 1-6
II. Poverty eradication 7-13
Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and

III. 14-23
production
Protection and managing the natural resource base of
IV. 24-46
economic and social development
V. Sustainable development in a globalizing world 47-52
VI. Health and sustainable development 53-57
VII. Sustainable development of small island developing States 58-61
VIII. Sustainable development for Africa 62-71
IX. Other regional initiatives 72-80
A. Sustainable development in Latin America and the

73-74
Caribbean
B. Sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific 75-76
C. Sustainable development in the West Asia region 77-78
D. Sustainable development in the Economic Commission

79-80
for Europe region
X. Means of implementation 81-136
XI. Institutional framework for sustainable development 137-170
A. Objectives 139
B. Strengthening the institutional framework for sustain-

140-142
able development at the international level
C. Role of the General Assembly 143
D. Role of the Economic and Social Council 144
E. Role and function of the Commission on Sustainable

145-150
Development
F. Role of international institutions 151-157
G. Strengthening institutional arrangements for sustain-

158-161
able development at the regional level
H. Strengthening institutional frameworks for sustain-
162-167
able development at the national level
I. Participation of major groups 168-170
E c o n o m i c &
S o c i a l
Indicators of
Sustainable Development:
A f f a i r s
October 2007
Third Edition
Published by the United Nations
ISBN 978-92-1-104577-2
Sales No: E.08.II.A.2
07-53189—December 2007—2,300 United Nations

UN Guidelines

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Published by the United Nations

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II. CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

III. Overview of the revised CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development . . . 9

IV. Applying CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development . . . . . . . . . . . 29

V. A word on indicator frameworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

VI. Description of CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development . . . . . . . . 47

Appendix 1. Agenda 21–Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Appendix 2. Johannesburg Plan of Implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

This publication presents the third set of Indicators of Sustainable ­Development

II. CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development

ated a series of regional briefing and training workshops, and encouraged

B. Latest review of the CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development

III. Overview of the revised CSD Indicators

A. General description

CSD indicator themes

Theme Sub-theme Core indicator Other indicator

Theme Sub-theme Core indicator Other indicator

Education Education level Gross intake ratio to Life long learning

Tourism Ratio of local

Theme Sub-theme Core indicator Other indicator

Disaster Human and

Atmosphere Climate change Carbon dioxide Emissions of

Air quality Ambient concentration

Desertification Land affected by

Agriculture Arable and permanent Fertilizer use

Theme Sub-theme Core indicator Other indicator

Water use intensity by

Water quality Presence of faecal Biochemical oxygen

Sustainable Debt to GNI ratio

Employment Employment- Vulnerable

Theme Sub-theme Core indicator Other indicator

Consumption Material consumption Material intensity of Domestic material

Intensity of energy use,

Waste generation Generation of Generation of waste

Waste treatment and Management of

Transportation Modal split Modal split of

B. Addressing thematic linkages

Percent of population living

Global economic partnership

Immunization against infectious

Gross intake into last year

Global economic partnership

Global economic partnership

Global economic partnership

Global economic partnership

Table 2 only reveals direct relationships between indicators and themes.

C. Relationship between MDG Indicators and

Millennium Development Goals

‘New’, as the numbering of indicators in the revised MDG monitoring frame-

CSD Indicator of MDG Agenda 21 JPOI

Proportion of population living below Additional 3 (3.4 a) II (7a)

CSD Indicator of MDG Agenda 21 JPOI

Proportion of urban population # 32 * 7 (7.8) II (11 a)

Suicide rate 6 VI (54 o)

CSD Indicator of MDG Agenda 21 JPOI

Carbon dioxide emissions # 28 a * 9 (9.11) IV (38)

CSD Indicator of MDG Agenda 21 JPOI

Management effectiveness 15 (15.5.g) IV (44)

CSD Indicator of MDG Agenda 21 JPOI

Foreign direct investment (FDI) 33 (33.15) X (84)

This publication presents the third set of Indicators of Sustainable Development

III. Overview of the revised CSD Indicators

C. Relationship between MDG Indicators and

D. CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development, Agenda 21 and the

IV. Applying CSD Indicators of

B. Adapting CSD Indicators of

C. Indicators as tools for measuring sustainable development

VI. Description of CSD Indicators